Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The oral storytelling tradition
Storytelling as an art form is prevalent in all societies and cultures. Stories are easy to remember. Once we hear a story, we will most likely remember the main ideas conveyed by the story for a long time. It is probably for this reason that people have used stories to transmit cultural and historical knowledge to younger generations.
Hindus are known for their tradition of orally transmitting Vedic knowledge from generation to generation before they were written down. The oral storytelling tradition of Hindus was not restricted to Vedic knowledge, but also included telling stories from scriptures such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
When I was growing up in India, I had heard many stories about Hindu gods, saints, and mythology from the adults in my life. That interest prompted me to attend the performance of a Harikatha performed by U.E. Sinddhuja at the Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida on March 30, 2025. A massive Florida downpour did not dampen the spirits of the more than 100 people who braved the weather to attend the performance.
Inspiration from a mother
Sinddhuja is a renowned exponent of Harikatha musicianship who has trained students in Harikatha, Carnatic music, and Bharatheeya Samskrithi for over 15 years.
She was inspired to become a Harikatha singer by her mother, who encouraged her to become a storyteller by narrating stories passed down through generations. Sinddhuja has expanded the scope of her Harikatha performances to include stories of Indian national heroes to instill pride in the country among its youth.
Harikatha is an art form that combines storytelling, music, dance, poetry, drama, and philosophy. The word “Hari” refers to Lord Vishnu, a deity from the Hindu pantheon. The word “katha” means story. So, a Harikatha tells the stories of the gods. Practitioners of this art form use music and narration to tell stories related to the gods. These stories are designed to teach valuable lessons about morals, values, spirituality, and life in general.
An invocation to the Gods
The Harikatha began with an invocation to Lord Ganesha, several Hindu saints, and Lord Anjaneya. In her mellifluous voice, Sindhuja sang devotional songs in Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu and explained the timeless stories embedded in the songs in English to a multilingual audience.
It is believed that we go through numerous births, as trees, insects, and different kinds of animals, before we are born as human beings, Sinddhuja explained. Through songs devoted to Panduranga Vittala, a manifestation of Lord Krishna, she emphasized the importance of pure devotion to the supreme being, of chanting God’s name, and of service to one’s gurus and parents.
An ancient form
Harikathas go back many centuries. According to Sinddhuja, “katha” was first mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad. In the later centuries, storytelling with poetry and prose was popularized by Kings and wealthy patrons of the arts. In due course, music was added, and Sangeetha Upanyasam or storytelling combined with music was born. Harikatha is a form of Sangeetha Upanyasam. Stories of the saints, rishis, and other enlightened people are also narrated through songs by performers of Harikatha.
Sinddhuja explained the scope and sequence of a Harikatha. “The upanyasaka, or the storyteller, opens the narration with anecdotes and music to engage the audience. The mood is often set with a divine invocation through simple chants glorifying various gods, goddesses, and the gurus. These chants vary depending on the primary deity of the katha or the sampradaya (tradition) to which the upanyasaka belongs. Then the story is narrated with or without introducing the characters, depending on their popularity. For example, Rama and Krishna need no introduction, whereas Uddhava or Sabari might need a brief introduction.”
“The stories told in Harikatha,” Sinddhuja continues, “are often drawn from the Hindu epics and mythological texts, and are intended to impart moral and spiritual teachings.
A Harikatha performance
Harikatha performances typically involve a single performer, known as the Harikatha artist, who tells the story through a combination of narration, music, and song. The artist may be accompanied by a group of musicians playing traditional Indian instruments such as the mridangam (a two-headed drum), the veena (a plucked string instrument), and the flute.
Sometimes the artist may use witty jokes and humorous anecdotes to illustrate a point or to poke fun at the foibles of human behaviour. These help make the story more accessible and engaging for the audience, while also conveying important messages about morality and ethics.
Harikathas have a rich history and tradition in India, and have been practiced for centuries by generations of performers. The art form has evolved, incorporating new styles and techniques, but it remains rooted in the traditional Indian culture and philosophy.”
Current advances in communication technologies make it easy for Harikatha performers to post videos of their performances online for others to view at leisure from the comfort of their own homes. However, attending a live Harikatha performance is a unique experience that cannot be matched by watching videos online.
Katha Sinddhu’s US Tour ’25
Sinddhuja is currently on a tour of the United States that continues through June, as a part of which she will be performing about 50 Harikathas in 18 or more states.
