06/02/2026
Many years ago, as a moody 16-year-old, I wandered into a kirtan with Ragani at Kenwood Methodist Church on Milwaukee's East Side. That night changed my life. The mantras felt deeply familiar, and the music touched something in my soul.
Since then, Ragani has become my mentor, one of my closest friends, and my family. She has taught me so much. She also has a remarkable gift for finding ways to embarrass me in public while somehow making me laugh at the same time.
What moves me most is her humility. She paved the way for the Kirtan community in Milwaukee and has influenced countless people, often without realizing the impact she's had on so many lives. The truth is, Kirtan Fest Milwaukee would never have existed without her. Years ago, she said yes to the synchronicities that led her to start Kirtan with Ragani, which grew into the largest ongoing local kirtan gathering in the country and became a doorway into this practice for so many of us.
These days, Ragani only performs in Milwaukee about once a year, and we are so grateful she chooses Kirtan Fest as that place. ❤️
Love you, sweet friend.
Kaita
