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We are inviting you to support the Rela team in organising next year’s gathering, RELA, January 2026.

“Rela” (रेला) in Gondi language commonly refers to a group movement or a collective celebration involving singing and dancing in a circle, rhythmic movement, clapping, drumming, and chanting - especially in folk or Indigenous traditions. It’s a term used in various parts of India, particularly in Adivasi culture (Adivasi is the term understood to describe Indigenous communities in the country).

This is a unique celebration, where cultures meet — with folk musicians from London playing alongside Adivasi communities from Madhya Pradesh, India, all of whom are dear friends of our hosts.

Last year, by the banks of the Dev River in rural Madhya Pradesh, magic unfolded as people from far-flung villages and distant cities came together, carrying with them music, laughter, and a deep respect for the land.

It was the first gathering of its kind, creating an opportunity for different voices to meet, listen, and create together.

India is a country developing rapidly on the global stage, yet there are still many communities living close to the earth who are rarely seen or heard in national and international spaces. Rela (रेला), is our way of holding space for these long living worldviews and lifestyles, not as something “preserved”, but as something living, dynamic, and evolving.

Our friend, who has spent years travelling, learning from, and building relationships with his now long time friends from Adivasi communities, has been slowly creating a home just outside a small village. This has become a space for cultural exchange, dialogue, and celebration.

Last year, he prepared his land to host approximately 100 people, inviting musicians and elders personally, one village at a time, and it was an unbelievable success!

Everyone sang and danced into the night, whilst strangers became friends as we went foraging and fishing together, and everyone left with open, full hearts.

This year, more musicians hope to come. More friends and more communities.

We want to welcome them, and to do that we would like to ask for your support.

Funding Itinerary:

This time, we’re preparing to host 150-200 people. To make that happen, we’re raising funds to cover key costs:

Food – 3 nutritious meals a day for everyone (including volunteers who work hard to help make this event happen): ₹100,000

Accommodation – site build and repair costs, improving infrastructure on the land: ₹75,000

Travel – supporting Adivasi musicians coming from remote and inaccessible areas (Bhamragarh, Kanker, Narayanpur, Mawai, Lormi) - including emergency fund: ₹250,000

Purchasing additional items required to host on this scale - blankets, water carriers, cooking & cleaning equipment, utensils, etc: ₹50,000

General production costs (including the inevitable unforeseen expenses!) : ₹50,000

All the material resources needed to run the project will be sourced in local communities (ie for food services, transport, etc)

Total needed: ₹525,000 (approximately £4,466)

Many of the local communities that are coming are both musicians and daily wage labourers. Taking time off work and paying for long travel isn’t easy, and for some, this will be their first time travelling so far.

We will ensure that every one of our Adivasi and local community folk have more than enough food, shelter, and their travel fully covered. These are the sort of people who will wake at 4am to ensure the rest of the crew and attendees feel held and fed, and will prepare the space as a part of their natural daily flow. We want to meet them there with these basic amenities and offerings, as we share and grow together.

If we raise more than our goal, we’ll reinvest it into the project to cover future events, infrastructure builds where they are needed across local communities, and help to ensure that homes and lands are protected.

Why this matters:

The world can feel heavy, divided, and uncertain. Rela (रेला) is a space of joy and connection; to each other, to humanity and to the earth.

Our Rela (रेला) is not a polished show or a commercial festival, nor is it a spectacle with performers and an audience, it’s something true to humanity, it is raw and unprogrammed and truly a delight of sound and movement in a wild jungle ecology, alongside the magnificent Dev river.

We have been dreaming of this shared moment to come around again since 2024. Back to the gathering of people who believe in showing up with authenticity in this complicated world.

Please contribute what you can, and share the fundraiser with others who might feel connected to our wild and wonderful project.

We have a podcast launching soon to give more insight into the complexities that lay behind the Rela (रेला) project, and are working on creating a photobook and some more engaging media for you to connect with. If you are interested in receiving any of these offerings please send us a message via https://theelephantpodcast.co.uk and we will make sure to be in touch! If you donate - we will reach out to you to ask if you would like to receive these gifts of knowledge, art and insight!

With all of our love and gratitude,

Team Rela (रेला), 2026!!