Harmonium and tabla often take center stage, their interplay weaving a warm, inviting backdrop for the vocal offerings. A small pump-organ, the harmonium brings that signature drone and chordal richness—think of it as the cozy hearth around which melodies gather. The tabla—paired sometimes with its deeper sibling, the dholak—lays down intricate rhythms that coax feet to tap and hearts to open.

Tanpura, with its gentle, continuous buzzing, adds a shimmering sonic cushion. It’s the invisible thread stitching melody to mantra, nudging the mind toward stillness. Hand cymbals (kartals or manjira) sprinkle bright, metallic flashes between vocal lines, like sunlight breaking through clouds. In southern gatherings, a mridangam or edakka might appear, offering deeper bass tones that ground the entire ensemble.

Flute (bansuri) and stringed instruments—sitar, sarangi, veena—slip in when the mood calls for a lyrical, almost human voice beside the singer’s. Their gliding notes mirror the rising and falling breath of a devotee in full surrender. Occasionally, a tambourine or frame drum shows up, especially at outdoor kirtans and international yoga festivals, bringing a communal, almost dance-like energy.

These days, live streams on YouTube and Instagram often spotlight fusion setups: bouzouki, cajón or even a delicate harp finding harmony alongside traditional instruments. During this year’s International Yoga Day celebrations in Mumbai, an impromptu rooftop session paired a cello with tabla—proof that devotional music keeps adapting, without losing its soul.

Every instrument, ancient or modern, joins in a collective chant—each stroke on a drum, each press of a key, each ring of a cymbal—painting a tapestry of sound that reaches straight for the heartstrings.