3 Day Immersive: The Mystical Voice of Dhrupad with Dhani Gundecha
October 6 - 8
Explore the poetry of Sant Kabir through the ancient practice of Dhrupad
Where voice, breath, rhythm, and contemplation become a pathway toward experiencing oneness.
THE WORKSHOP
Sant Kabir's poetry emerged from a profound spiritual questioning, challenging divisions of caste, creed, ritual, and identity, and pointing instead toward the formless divine, the unity of existence, and the presence of the sacred within all beings.
In this 3-day immersive workshop, participants will enter the world of Kabir Vaani through Dhrupad, exploring a collection of Kabir's poetry composed and brought into the Dhrupad tradition by the world-renowned Dhrupad vocalists, the Gundecha Brothers.
Through singing, listening, contemplation, and rhythmic practice, participants will discover how Kabir's words become a living musical experience.
At the heart of the workshop is the philosophy of Nirguna Bhakti—the experience of the divine beyond form, and the recognition of the One in all and all in One.
In a world increasingly divided by conflict, identity, and separation, Kabir's message remains deeply relevant: to discover the common chord that connects us all.
Music becomes that common chord—a language that can transcend words, culture, religion, and social divisions.
WHAT YOU WILL EXPLORE
1. KABIR’S POETRY — KABIR VAANI
Discover selected poems by Sant Kabir and explore their philosophical and spiritual dimensions.
Participants will not only learn the compositions as songs but also engage with the meaning, imagery, and questions embedded within Kabir’s poetry.
We will explore themes of:
Oneness and interconnectedness
The formless divine — Nirguna
Inner awakening
The relationship between the individual and the universal
Surrender and devotion
The search for the divine within oneself
Freedom from social and religious divisions
2. KABIR THROUGH DHRUPAD
Experience how the poetry of Kabir finds expression through one of the oldest surviving major genres of North Indian classical music.
Learn traditional Dhrupad compositions based on Kabir’s poetry, as composed and performed within the Dhrupad tradition by the Gundecha Brothers.
Participants will explore:
The architecture of a Dhrupad composition
The relationship between poetry and melody
The expressive possibilities of the voice
Dhrupad’s approach to Sur and resonance
The meditative quality of sustained sound
How meaning is deepened through musical expression
3. RAGA — ENTERING THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF THE POETRY
Learn selected Kabir compositions through their respective Ragas and discover how each melodic framework creates a distinct emotional and contemplative landscape.
Across the five days, participants will work with several poems by Kabir, composed in different Ragas and set to music by the Gundecha Brothers.
Participants will learn the melodic language, phrases, and character of each Raga while discovering how the poetry interacts with the musical structure.
4. VOICE AS AN EXPRESSION OF BEING
Move beyond singing as the production of sound.
Through Dhrupad voice practices, participants will explore the relationship between:
Breath → Voice → Resonance → Listening → Presence
The practice will help participants develop greater awareness of their own voice and discover how the voice can become an authentic expression of their inner state.
Therapeutic Sound — A unified practice where sound serves as a gentle medicine. By learning specific improvisation tools and patterns, participants will engage in intuitive singing designed to support the release of fear and psycho-emotional blocks, creating space for inner purification and free, spontaneous expression.
5. RASA, BHAKTI & NIRGUNA
Explore the meeting point between music and mysticism.
Through Kabir’s poetry and Dhrupad practice, participants will be invited to experience devotion not merely as belief, but as a state of listening, surrender, and presence.
6. RHYTHM & THE PAKHAWAJ
Experience the powerful rhythmic world of Dhrupad through the Pakhawaj, the traditional percussion instrument associated with the genre.
Participants will learn:
The fundamentals of Dhrupad Taal
Rhythmic cycles and their structure
How the voice interacts with percussion
Maintaining melodic continuity within rhythm
Basic rhythmic improvisation
The dialogue between vocalist and Pakhawaj
7. IMPROVISATION
Learn how to move beyond reproducing a composition and begin discovering your own musical voice.
Participants will explore simple Dhrupad improvisational techniques within the selected Ragas, developing:
Pitch awareness
Melodic movement
Rhythmic awareness
Listening
Spontaneity
Confidence in musical expression
WHAT YOU WILL TAKE HOME
The workshop is designed to leave participants with practices that continue beyond the 3 days.
Participants will receive:
Individual Vocal Feedback
Personal guidance on voice, pitch, resonance, breath, musical expression, and areas for development.
A Personal Practice Framework
Simple Dhrupad-inspired vocal and listening practices that participants can continue independently.
Four Kabir Compositions
A deeper understanding and practical experience of selected Kabir compositions in the Dhrupad tradition.
Raga & Rhythm Foundations
An introduction to the melodic structures and rhythmic cycles underlying the compositions.
Improvisational Tools
Practical approaches to improvising within a Raga rather than simply reproducing learned material.
Deeper Listening
Greater sensitivity to Sur, Tanpura, silence, resonance, and the unfolding of sound.
A New Relationship With the Voice
An opportunity to experience the voice not merely as a musical instrument, but as a vehicle for presence, expression, and inner exploration.
Practical Details:
PREREQUISITES:
This workshop is especially suited for:
Singers and vocalists
Musicians and performing artists
Dhrupad and Indian classical music students
Yoga and meditation practitioners
Sound practitioners
Teachers and facilitators working with voice
Seekers interested in Indian mysticism and Bhakti traditions
Anyone drawn to Kabir’s poetry and philosophy
Anyone wishing to explore the voice as a contemplative practice
Some prior experience with singing or musical practice is helpful, but an openness to learning, listening, and exploring is essential.
AGENDA:
THE DEEPER INVITATION
Kabir asks us to look beyond the boundaries we create between ourselves.
Beyond religion.
Beyond identity.
Beyond language.
Beyond the divisions of society.Dhrupad asks us to listen.
To one sound.
To silence.
To ourselves.
And eventually, to what connects us all.Kabir Vaani is an invitation to experience that connection through music.
One voice.
Many voices.
One vibration.
Join us for five days of Dhrupad, Kabir, mysticism, voice, and deep listening.
Who is singing?
What is being sung?
Where does the sound arise from?
And where does it disappear?
DATES & TIMES
October 6 - 8 | 10:00 - 16:00
PRICES
Regular price: 2.600.000 IDR
Single day pass: 1.200.000 IDR
Early bird price: 2.100.000 IDR | Valid until October 3
DHANI GUNDECHA
Dhani Gundecha is a senior disciple of the Gundecha Brothers and a promising young Dhrupad vocalist. She has performed on prestigious stages, including Saptak Sankalp Saptah in Ahmedabad and Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior, among others. She also collaborates with other vocalists and instrumentalists on various projects, including theatre and other artistic mediums.
Vocal Coach - She is a well-trained Indian classical music vocal coach. Over the years, she has helped many students and music enthusiasts overcome vocal challenges and barriers.
She is currently the Chairperson of Dhrupad Sansthan Nyas, an institute dedicated to Dhrupad music in Bhopal.