The 15th edition of International Sufi Rang Festival began today with great gusto at the holy shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti R.A. in Ajmer Sharif.
Afzal Shah Madudi 
Conceived and organized by Haji Syed Salman Chishty, the Gaddi Nashin of Dargah Ajmer Sharif and Chairman of Chishty Foundation and curated by Gori Yusuf Hussain (Bharuch, Gujarat), the International Sufi exhibition brought together noted Sufi artists, calligraphers, painters, curators and visual artist from across the country, mainly from Vadodara, Malegaon, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Bikaner, Tonk, Surat, Srinagar, Udaipur, Bedar and Bharuch.
A number of artists from different countries are also participating in this week-long exhibition of Sufi art of calligraphy, Sufi poetry, Sufi music (Simaa and Qawwali) which is slated to conclude on 7th October.
The distinguished guests and dignitaries of this edition of International Sufi Rang Festival included IG of Ajmer District, Shri Rupender Singh, Ajmer District Collector Shri Anshdeep, Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji (Nawjawan Sabha, Ajmer), Ms. Rouble Nagi, famous Indian visual artist and founder of Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, renowned business leader and philanthropist Mr. Suresh Mirinda (Dubai) and Mrs. Aisha Mirinda (home maker and influencer).
In his remarks, IG of Ajmer District, Shri Rupender Singh, Ajmer District highlighted the significance of this Sufi Rang Festival in strengthening the national integration and socio-religious and communal harmony. "We need to make concerted efforts to keep alive the collective spirit of the nation through the great art exhibitions such as the International Sufi Rang Festival", he said.
Ms. Rouble Nagi, famous Indian visual artist and founder of Rouble Nagi Art Foundation popularly known as "the Slums' Queen" congratulated the Chishty Foundation for organizing the exhibition and emphasized the role of young artists in the nation-building and spreading educational awareness through creative arts. "Art is a great medium that breaks all barriers. One of the finest examples is this annual exhibition of Sufi arts which helps the Indian community at large to form an organic unity and cultural solidarity", she avered.
Several seniors of the Anjuman Syyedzadgan, Shaikhzadghan, Khuddam-e-Khwaja Saheb including Anjuman President Janab Ghulam Kibriya Chishty, Syed Natiq Chishty, Syed Munnawar Chishty, were also among the eminent guests and Interfaith leaders of Ajmer City also attended in this opening ceremony of the 15th International Sufi Rang Festival.
Syed afzal Ali shah Maududi.
Editor cum Bureau chief.
