ChantLanta, to be held March 7 and 8, at Druid Hills Baptist Church, is a showcase for the diverse and rich culture of chant music, yoga and sacred sound experiences that are available in and around our community, featuring seven bands, 13 workshops, a vendor market with a silent auction and freshly-prepared Indian food.

The annual event has raised more than $15,000 in donations to help some of the world’s most poverty-stricken people. Donations go to support The Learning Tea and The Sacred Cows Sanctuary; all of the artists, organizers and staff are volunteering their time for these wonderful causes.

In 2010, a group of volunteers banded together to create the first ChantLanta Sacred Music Festival as a way to build public awareness of the benefits of chanting and to channel that awareness to aid struggling charity causes. Since then, the festival has attained national recognition, hosted huge crowds and become an Atlanta tradition.

Admission is free. Location: 1085 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE. For more information, visit ChantLanta.org.

A multi-day spiritual event.

Bhakti yoga, the tradition from which kirtan comes, may be thought of as the yoga of the heart or the yoga of Divine love. It is often called the yoga of devotion. The Sanskrit root also translates as "to share in" or "to belong to," so bhakti yoga can also be described as a path of participation. Kirtan and ChantLanta both embody this concept perfectly. Call and response singing blurs the line between performers and spectators, uniting all in loving consciousness. We connect not only with each other and our immediate community, but the greater spiritual community: family, neighbors, teachers, students, and ultimately, our planet.

Schedule:

Friday, March 7th, in the Social Hall 6:30 pm -- Doors Open! 7:00 pm -- Opening Meditation (TBA) 7:15 pm -- Community Kirtan Jam 9:00 pm -- High Vibe Dance Party with Tribal Council Collective

Saturday, March 8th, on the Sanctuary Stage 11:00 am -- Mantra Ma 12:30 pm -- Wynne Paris 2:00 pm -- Cat Matlock and Japa 3:30 pm -- Kirtan Bandits 4:30 pm -- Stage Closed for Sound Checks 4:45 pm -- Fire Ceremony led by Cat Matlock in the Atrium 7:00 pm -- Phil McWilliams 8:15 pm -- Blue Spirit Wheel 9:30 pm -- Rahasya

Saturday, March 8th, in the Selah Center 10:00 am -- 5 Rhythms Sweat Your Prayers with Smith Hanes 12:00 pm -- Aum Tala Yoga with Karen Dorfman and Ian Boccio 1:15 pm -- Crystal Bowl Meditation with Kathy Lytle 2:30 pm -- Monkey Chant! 3:45 pm -- MahaYoga with Agni Ma and the Kashi Kirtanwallas 5:00 pm -- Sound, Movement & Tea Meditation with Craig Canedy

Saturday, March 8th, in the Choir Rehearsal Room 11:30 am -- Sacred Harp Singing

Saturday, March 8th, in the Parlor 10:00 am -- Sufi Zikr Chanting Meditation with Molly Wender 11:30 am -- The Learning Groove for Kids with April Groom 12:45 pm -- Grounded Kid's Yoga with Cheryl Crawford 2:00 pm -- Sound of Breath with Plamen Russev 3:15 pm -- TaKeTiNa with DrumRise 4:30 pm -- Gongscapes with Yogiray

Sunday, March 9th, in the Selah Center 4:30 pm -- Chanting 1008 Hanuman Mantras with Ian Boccio 6:30 pm -- Potluck Dinner and Community Gathering