March 24th, 2026 • Lalakhedi, Indore-Bhopal Road, Sehore
THE DEHATI FOUNDATION PRESENTS
Presents
1st Edition
The Dehati Fest
MARCH 24TH, 2026
From MALWA to the HEARTS OF DEHAT
“Be Dehati, Be Indian”
The Dehati Fest
A culture-led festival bridging rural and urban India
The Dehati Fest, an initiative by The Dehati Foundation, is proposed for 22 February, 2026. It responds to the growing emotional and ideological divide between rural and urban India — a gap shaped not by distance, but by migration, limited opportunities, and the gradual loss of cultural platforms in villages. As development accelerates, rural voices have faded from mainstream cultural spaces. The Dehati Fest seeks to bring them back honestly and respectfully.
Culture as a Bridge
Through art, poetry, music, and meaningful dialogue, The Dehati Fest creates a shared cultural ground where rural and urban communities meet. The festival invites urban audiences to reconnect with their roots and experience the dignity, joy, and essence of simpler living — free from hierarchy and discrimination. Guided by the spirit of “Be Dehati, Be Indian,” the festival brings together thought leaders, poets, folk musicians, and contemporary bands using culture to reconnect hearts and reimagine the role of villages in India’s future.
Why Malwa?
Imagine golden wheat fields swaying under an endless sky. Hear the resonant drone of the tambura across the open plains. In Malwa, the music isn’t just performed — it is lived. We invite you to experience this landscape not as a tourist, but as a seeker of the soul.
The Timeline
Day 01 | 22nd February, Sunday
02:00 PM: Arrival, Meet & Greet introduction session.
02:30 – 03:30 PM: Dehati brunch ‘साजा और रोटी पोहा’ — A traditional Malwa welcome.
03:30 – 04:30 PM: Informative walk to Village Agricultural land.
04:30 – 05:00 PM: Visit to a historical 70 years old Patel ki Haveli.
05:00 – 06:00 PM: Gaon Bhraman/ गांव भ्रमण — Discovering the rhythm of village life.
06:30 – 07:30 PM: Dinner served in Dehati style.
07:30 PM – Midnight: Movie Screening (Kalichaat), Music Concert, Poetry, Bonfire & Storytelling.
Night: Sleep on ‘चारपाई’ under the starry sky.
Day 02 | 23rd February, Monday
06:00 AM: Wakeup call to the sounds of nature.
06:30 – 07:30 AM: Breakfast at the farm with high tea.
07:30 – 08:00 AM: Meet & play with our pet cows.
08:00 – 09:30 AM: Departure. Bid Adieu.
Voices of the Soil
Rahgir
Contemporary Folk Voice • Poetry & Social Narrative. Known for blending Rajasthani folk with contemporary indie music.
Kabir Café
Contemporary Folk Fusion • Kabir’s Poetry in Modern Sound. Bringing 15th-century mystic poetry to contemporary audiences.
Kaluram Bamaniya
Padma Shri Folk Vocalist • Kabir & Bhakti Tradition. Preserving Malwa’s folk traditions through powerful bhajans.
Mir Rajak Ali
Rajasthani Folk Singer • Sufiana Qalam. Carrying forward the Mirasi community’s Sufiana traditions.
The Aahvaan Project
Folk Storytelling Collective • Music & Social Reflection. Exploring themes of identity and modern life.
Jashn-e-Qalam
Theatre Storytelling • Literary Performance. Bringing Hindustani literature alive through solo performances.
Umesh Tarkaswar
Composer & Music Director • Classical-Contemporary Fusion. Merging traditional roots with modern orchestration.
Kavish Seth
Poetry-led Music • Classical-Contemporary. Creator of ‘Noori’, an instrument designed for soulful resonance.
What to Expect
Dialogue & Chaupal
An open-air exchange between rural practitioners and urban seekers.
Village Walk
A guided stroll through the golden wheat fields and the heart of Lalakhedi.
Authentic Meals
Traditional Malwa brunch and dinner served in a community kitchen.
Bonfire & Music
Nightly gatherings featuring folk melodies under the vast, open sky.
Film Screening
Watching socially rooted cinema in the silence of nature.
Sleeping Under the Stars
A rare experience of resting on a “charpai” beneath the Milky Way.
Meet Our Pet Cows
Connecting with the gentle soul of the village through its animals.
Historical Heritage
Exploring the 70-year-old Haveli and local rural architecture.
Ready to join the movement?
Limited capacity • Priority for community builders & creators
Get in Touch
Have a question or want to volunteer? Send us a message.