The Dehati Fest

March 24th, 2026  •  Lalakhedi, Indore-Bhopal Road, Sehore

“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.

Voices of the Soil

Rahgir
Rahgir

Contemporary Folk Voice • Poetry & Social Narrative. Known for blending Rajasthani folk with contemporary indie music.

Kabir Café
Kabir Café

Contemporary Folk Fusion • Kabir’s Poetry in Modern Sound. Bringing 15th-century mystic poetry to contemporary audiences.

Kaluram Bamaniya
Kaluram Bamaniya

Padma Shri Folk Vocalist • Kabir & Bhakti Tradition. Preserving Malwa’s folk traditions through powerful bhajans.

Mir Rajak Ali
Mir Rajak Ali

Rajasthani Folk Singer • Sufiana Qalam. Carrying forward the Mirasi community’s Sufiana traditions.

The Aahvaan Project
The Aahvaan Project

Folk Storytelling Collective • Music & Social Reflection. Exploring themes of identity and modern life.

Jashn-e-Qalam
Jashn-e-Qalam

Theatre Storytelling • Literary Performance. Bringing Hindustani literature alive through solo performances.

Umesh Tarkaswar
Umesh Tarkaswar

Composer & Music Director • Classical-Contemporary Fusion. Merging traditional roots with modern orchestration.

Kavish Seth
Kavish Seth

Poetry-led Music • Classical-Contemporary. Creator of ‘Noori’, an instrument designed for soulful resonance.