Gershone, a 50-year-old musician and Kirtan artist from Atlanta, Georgia, joins Sabin on the India Calling podcast to share his deeply personal and transformative relationship with India across three visits spanning a decade. What began as a chance encounter with a cassette tape of Sanskrit chanting in his early 20s evolved into a life devoted to mantra and devotional music. After years touring with a roots reggae band and discovering Kirtan through yogic communities, Gershone made his first solo trip to India in 2014 with nothing but a one-way ticket to New Delhi and an open heart. From the overwhelming streets of New Delhi to the sacred waters of the Ganga in Rishikesh, and the 24/7 Kirtan of Vrindavan, India remade him — one melody at a time.

Across his three journeys, Gershone has experienced the divine choreography India is known for — none more remarkable than an unplanned jam session with his musical hero David Estes in the heart of Vrindavan, which led to a five-year musical collaboration. He speaks with depth and poetry about what Kirtan really does to the human heart: how it moves energy, dissolves the ego, and creates a state of collective transcendence that feels like soaking in a natural hot spring. From the Hindustani concerts of Varanasi and the Sufi Qawwali nights at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, to the sacred hill of Tiruvannamalai and the utopian commune of Auroville — Gershone's India is not a destination but a living, breathing teacher. His story is an invitation to any seeker: when India calls, answer with your whole heart.

Gershone in His Own Words

How did you first discover mantra and chanting?

I was in my young 20s, in a moment of confusion in my path. I put on this random cassette — I didn't even know how I had the tape — and I didn't know what the words were saying, but I just kept turning the cassette over when it would finish. And I felt such medicinal healing in the vibration of those sounds.

What was it like arriving in India for the very first time?

I arrived in New Delhi at one or two in the morning after 20-something hours of travel. Walking out of that airport — it's so wild even at two in the morning. And then the next morning, walking out on the streets of New Delhi, I was beyond overwhelmed. A woman came up to me with a baby in her arms and a milk bottle with no milk in it. I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta — totally different reality

Why do you keep returning to Rishikesh and Vrindavan specifically?

Rishikesh — you're in the foothills of the Himalayas, you've got the Ganga, music everywhere, yoga, caves for meditation, Sadhu energy. It gives you the taste of India in a beautiful way. Vrindavan is where Krishna lived his pastimes. The current there is so intensely Krishna-strong — the dust is settling and still happening at the same time. You can only get that there. Each time I fly into New Delhi, there's no way I'm missing those two places.

What is really happening during a Kirtan — for the performer and the audience?

On a simple level, we're getting out of our own way so that healing can come through. There's a conversation going on between the lover and the beloved. We're going from being in our minds and getting into our hearts where we feel connected to all. Afterwards, it's like we've all taken a collective bath — like a natural hot spring we've all soaked in and come out in a better space.

Can you describe the serendipitous meeting with David Estes in Vrindavan?

I was staying at an ashram in Vrindavan and there was a Diwali celebration. This incredible seventh-generation Indian group was playing, and then the guru wanted someone else to play — and it was David Estes, my huge inspiration. He started playing acoustic guitar and there was a harmonium sitting right next to him with no one playing it. A friend said, 'you should go up there.' I walked toward the stage, then dropped into cross-legged on the grass — I can't be that guy. But then I thought, if I'm not open to the universe, to God, to life force, come on. So I went up and we played for another hour. And for the next five years, I flew out to California to play with David and his band at Bhakti Fest and Shukti Fest.

What would you tell a fellow American who has never been to India?

India is like no other place on the planet. The culture around devotion to music, vibration, and spirituality is so strong that it inspires me beyond words. The food, the people — it's such a colorful, peaceful culture. And the serendipity — if you open yourself to it, India will blow you away. These magical moments happen anywhere in the world, but in India, they happen at a different frequency entirely.

What's one piece of practical advice for first-time visitors?

Take the train, not the bus, from Delhi to Rishikesh — trust me on that one. And if you're in Varanasi and someone offers you the 'strong special lassi'... go very humbly and low dosage. We'll leave it at that.

What's next for you and Gina?

Gina meditates twice a day and her teaching lineage comes from Chidambaram in South India — the home of the dancing Shiva, Nataraja. We'd love to make it back to India so she can experience that. And I'd love to finally see Kerala and Goa — two places I haven't been yet. I'm also taking Dhrupad lessons online from a teacher in New Delhi, and I'd love to have face-to-face time with him on my next trip.

Conclusion

Gershone's story is not just a travel memoir — it is a testament to what happens when a person follows vibration as a compass. Three trips, dozens of sacred cities, thousands of kilometres, and a lifetime of mantras later, India is not just a place he has visited. It is a teacher he keeps returning to, a mirror that shows him who he is beneath the noise of everyday life.

What makes this conversation on India Calling so special is how it bridges two worlds — Gershone's Western musical roots and India's ancient devotional traditions — and shows that the bridge was always there, waiting to be crossed. As Sabin, founder of Smukti and host of India Calling, so eloquently puts it: "India doesn't call people randomly. It calls them when they are ready."

For anyone curious about Kirtan, mantra, or the spiritual geography of India, this episode is a beautiful place to begin. And for those already on the path — it is a reminder to keep showing up, stay open, and trust that the harmonium seat will be waiting for you when you arrive.

Listen to the full episode on the India Calling Podcast by Smukti. Follow Gershone on Instagram and stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube under Gershone & Gina.

Visit gershonemusic.com to learn more.