but it is a holy union and part of our sanskar culture and shubhadas kirtans brought it alive says joshi these attempts at social awareness pales when it comes to the demand for religious content sujal patkar a teacher sends her 12yearold son shail sagar patkar to learn kirtans because she says that the lessons will keep him away from being naughty she herself is learning to develop her spiritual side i am not good at singing but bhakti is important if you are really involved people wont bother about your voice she insists for her the singing coupled with some meditation is the best stressbuster the kirtankars too know this if joshi has 10 programmes every month during the ongoing festival season only one of them would require her to brush up on her medical kirtans also there is money in bhakti fulltime artist vyas says that artists are paid rs 30004000 for a twohour session to upwards of rs 25000 for a 10day gig at navaratri celebrations in goa but one has to be musically sound and know how to engage the audience ranade says that the demand for bhakti kirtans isnt surprising folk art has always been about religious or quasireligious ideas like all art forms they too touch up on contemporary issues to stay relevant he says the demand for kirtan performances has risen in the last fivesix years coinciding with a renewed affirmation in the hindu identity and traditions but that hasnt stopped anjali joshi from sneaking in a few of her helpful medical kirtans either on madhumeha diabetes or heart disease during regular shows singing them keeps me going she laughs