In 2019, ChantLanta, the city’s annual free kirtan festival, raised $12,000 for its nonprofit partner, Camp Cadi, reports festival director Stephanie Kohler.

That figure represents a substantial portion of the nonprofit’s 2018 budget and smashes the organization’s previous record of $9,000 by 33 percent. ChantLanta raised that amount in 2017 for Global Growers.

Camp Cadi, founded in 2005 by Amy Barth, provides a week of summer camp where girls ages 8 to 17 who have been sexually abused can experience healing and community.

This year’s ChantLanta, held from March 8 to 10, featured seven local bands, international kirtan star Krishna Das, workshops, a vendor market and an ecstatic dance event. Kohler estimates attendance of 1,200 throughout the weekend.

Although the live music is over for now, this year’s post-festival output will include a mini documentary that ChantLanta is producing in partnership with Deidra Tyree Smith and Plume Tree Studios, and a CD that features one track from each local band. CD revenue will also be donated to charity.

“The idea [of the documentary] is to really give people a sense of what this is, because it is unusual,” says Kohler. “Some people literally don’t believe it; there’s no way volunteers do this ... And also, we are really wanting to inspire other people to think about how you can do events. It is possible to really show the power of gifting and service and see where it goes.”

Disclosure: Natural Awakenings is a sponsor of ChantLanta.