Harinaam Anand’s full time job is an HR manager in Sharjah. But on Fridays, the Indian expatriate, who lives in Dubai with his wife and three children, is the founder of Kirtan Dubai, a group that gathers every week to take part in kirtan, a form of musical meditation. The events are free and open to all.
Shared passions
I wake up leisurely on Friday and I do mantra meditation. After breakfast I spend most of my morning playing with my sons, Damodar, 7, and Sridhar, 5, or having the funniest conversations with them. After lunch, I practice for the kirtan events, which I organise every Friday.
Kirtan is a form of musical meditation. Some of my friends who are from different work backgrounds come together to share our passion for music and kirtans and we meet every Friday evening to do kirtans in yoga studios and homes. We all have a busy work schedule and kirtans are something that we always look forward to every Friday.
Moving story
I am originally from Mumbai, India. My wife was born and raised in Dubai and we decided to move to Dubai to help my in-laws’ business, which was going through some struggles. I now live with my wife and 3 kids, including our youngest boy, Devadeva, who is just two months old. My parents still live in Mumbai.
Flying and fish
As a kid I use to love flying kites. Me and my friends would fly kites the whole day. Also there was a pond behind my building called Banganga. I would go there and feed the ducks and fish.
X(Yoga) marks the weekend
We are doing kirtan at the XYoga festival at Kite Beach on March 16. I am quite excited to be part of this amazing festival.
Spiritual content
My favourite book is The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami. It is an autobiography of an American swami who hitch-hiked through Europe, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, finally reaching India and encountering so many cultures and traditions on his way. It really gave me an insight into the spiritual nature of many things in life and to approach and handle situations in a better way.
Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and Sant Tukaram (1936) are the two movies which really touched my heart. During my college days I would watch these movies again and again thinking of how these saintly people transformed people’s lives by sharing love for the supreme.
Secrets all sewn up
As a teenager I would help my dad in his tailoring business so I actually know how to sew clothes and many times do clothes alterations for customers.
For the love of felafel
I love falafel. I think the world’s best falafel is available in Al Mallah restaurant on Al Dhiyafa road. Sadly my kitchen exploits are not much to boast about. My laziness in culinary adventures stem from the fact that I have been blessed with wonderful cooks around me. My mum is an excellent cook and my wife is the best cook in the world. I do love eating out from time to time and one of my favourite restaurants is Govinda’s in Jumeirah.
What was the last thing you splurged on and why?
My Canon 5D Mark 4. I love photography and I didn’t blink for a moment before deciding to buy this beautiful masterpiece. I use the camera when I travel. The idea of capturing beautiful moments and expressions to relive them at a later time is what I really love about photography.
Crossing the globe
In the east I want to visit Bali, Cambodia and New Zealand, and in the west, Spain, Hawaii and Mexico.
How music is made
My harmonium. All I need is this beautiful instrument to play and chant mantras to keep myself busy for hours chanting different mantras.
How I’d like to be remembered
As a simple guy who started Kirtan Dubai.
My dream celebrity gathering
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai; Russell Brand; and Gaur Gopal Das. I would love to see them together in the World Government Summit to discuss the topic on how to empower youth to build great nations.
