ISFI is Ajmer's only International Sufi Festival dedicated to Sufi Art and Culture. The Festival offers Exhibitions, Conferences, Sufi Films, Sufi Music, Poetry, Dance and Awards.
The vision to launch a festival
The vision to launch a festival
Industry
Functions
Company Description:
We are a not-for-profit humanitarian organization.
We focus on capacity building and advocate self-sufficiency to empower communities
We work with International NGO partners to develop strategies and implement action plans.
We support efficient initiatives driven by grassroots-partners. This ensures local participation and capacity building at all levels of the projects and programmes.
Our key decisions are driven through an executive volunteer committee.
We take steps to see that our operating costs and expenses are kept at a minimal to ensure that our funding goes where it’s needed most.
Ms Gulshaa Begum, Chairperson Divine Abode / Festival Director
LINEAGE: Gulshaa Begum hails from a family of Sufi saints. About 150 years ago Hazrath Muhammad Gul Shah Chishty Qadria a Sufi Saint from the Northern Frontiers of Afghanistan traveled across the Indian Sub continent. The Shrine of the Blessed Saint is situated in South Kanara District.
A Visionary writer, Clairvoyant, Creative Artist. An Actress, Entrepreneur, Visual Merchandiser, Fashion Designer. Her shift from the alluring world of glamour towards the path of spirituality has paved the path for the new generation towards mysticism. Her cosmopolitan outlook about life, speech, creative ability, life path and its values has made people of all class of society embrace her.
She established the Divine Abode Foundation in 2010 in honor of the life and Mystical work of Hazrat Muhammad Gul Shah Chishty Qadria. The establishment defines mystical as having some secret meaning beyond human understanding; mysterious; spiritually representative; it fills with spiritual insight, illumination and Harmony with mysticism in thought or through inspiration. The Principle that truth or God may be known through spiritual insight independent of the mind. Focusing on methods of healing surrounding our whole essence and the factual nature of things, truth-seeking, abstract, supernatural. Thus bringing the secret meaning beyond human understanding spiritually or symbolic.
Furthermore, the Chairperson for Kamaluddin Charitable Trust a non-profit Organization established in 2008, which deals with women and children. The formation is actively participating in counseling and conducting varied programs for the uplift of women & children. Furthermore, actively associated with NGO for children suffering from cerebral palsy, Mental Challenges, Autism and Multiple disabilities. She has conducted workshops for the Youngsters at Veer Teja women's Educational Institute, Rai Foundation, etc.
In addition being a creative artist herself, she established the Al Ikhlas Art Gallery as part of service promoting emerging talent of artists thus creating an awareness of Islamic arts and Sacred Art as a mystical study, recognizing the inter-relationship between the arts and other academic disciplines.
In 2012, she had contributed an article for the book titled Interfaith Dialogue: Scope & Challenges is ready with 30 articles from eminent scholars / practitioners and the Foreword is written by Hon’ble Dr. Karan Singh by National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, India. The Hind Seva Dal conferred the Maharani Laxmi Bai Award for her work in the field of Sufism.
Beary Sauharya Sangha, Mangalore and Mulund Brothers in Mumbai honored her in 2007 for her achievement in Art, Culture and Interfaith Services. In 2012, she was honored by the National Human Rights Council, Congress women's Committee and by the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee.
She participated as a speaker at Colloquium orgd. By Interfaith Foundation, India & Temple of Understanding in 2011 on Mysticism and World Religion held at India International Center, Communal Harmony Conference organized by Paramhams Swami Maheshwaranandpuriji as a Woman Spiritual Leader and also in 2010 at the Asian Interfaith Consultation and 50th anniversary of Temple of Understanding organized by Temple of Understanding (International Chair, Hon’ble Dr Karan Singh) in Srinagar, Kashmir.
Director General
The administration of the ISFI is placed under the responsibility of the Director General who, under the authority of the Chairperson, runs it with the assistance of the directors; the latter are at the head of small units responsible for their respective sectors of competence (Performing Art, Literature, Conference, Paintings, Finance and Administration, Relations with the National Committees, Technology and Information, Communications, Television and Marketing Services, Legal Affairs, Medical and Museum
DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE
The ISFI distributes over 90% of its revenues to the ISFI Movement to support the staging of the Annual Festival and to promote the worldwide development of Art & Culture through Exhibitions & Workshops. The ISFI retains less than 10% of its revenue for the operational and administrative costs of governing the ISFI Movement.
SOURCES
Organising Committees for the Festivals
The ISFI provides programme contributions to support the staging of the ISFI Festival and Monsoon Ragas. Long-term sponsorship enables the Foundation to provide the majority of the budget well in advance to the festival. The continued success of the Festival has enabled the foundation to provide increased support for the various events under the Mother Festival.
Private Sponsors / Contributors: ISFI Festival receives funds from personal funders and individual during the festival. The Contributions are distributed among the performing artist as nominal fee and transportation expenses, Local Taxi, Administration, Printing, Vendors, Gifts and Momentous, Press Conference, Advertising, Manpower, Venue Charges, etc.
Other Organisations: The support from various organisations in the diverse festival enables the Foundation to create the appropriate platform with the contributions like providing artist, films, paintings, volunteers, Transport, take away Gifts, Books, etc.
Hospitality Support: The Support from the Hospitality partners provides the lodging and all meal's facility for the guest and artist. The Director Mr. Puneet Sharma, Hotel Swad Ri Dhani and Mr. Sathish Arora, Hotel Merwara palace is been supporting the cause wholeheartedly and unconditional support throughout the last two years of the mega event.
Design & Print Media: The contribution of Graphic Design Templin, Leading Designing House in Germany supports the advertising cost by designing the festival Logos, Brochures, Posters, etc.
Outdoor Advertising: The Advertising of outdoors like hoarding, Billboard is sponsored by the outdoor partner in Ajmer, Mumbai, Bangalore.
The Government Bodies : The localized Administration supports the Non-profit cause by providing assistance and also accommodation. No fee is charged by the local bodies. The Police security is given as and when required. The Government Venues are provided for a nominal charge or at times free of charges.
The Ministry of Home Affairs & External Affairs too have supported by timely responding to the communication and supporting documents are provided to the organisation.
Media / Television: The Local Leading Newspapers give immense support and coverage to promote the festival. All National and local leading television channels cover the event.
Freelance Journalist / Photographers: Coverage to the festival.
Director General
The administration of the ISFI is placed under the responsibility of the Director General who, under the authority of the Chairperson, runs it with the assistance of the directors; the latter are at the head of small units responsible for their respective sectors of competence (Performing Art, Literature, Conference, Paintings, Finance and Administration, Relations with the National Committees, Technology and Information, Communications, Television and Marketing Services, Legal Affairs, Medical and Museum
DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE
The ISFI distributes over 90% of its revenues to the ISFI Movement to support the staging of the Annual Festival and to promote the worldwide development of Art & Culture through Exhibitions & Workshops. The ISFI retains less than 10% of its revenue for the operational and administrative costs of governing the ISFI Movement.
SOURCES
Organising Committees for the Festivals
The ISFI provides programme contributions to support the staging of the ISFI Festival and Monsoon Ragas. Long-term sponsorship enables the Foundation to provide the majority of the budget well in advance to the festival. The continued success of the Festival has enabled the foundation to provide increased support for the various events under the Mother Festival.
Private Sponsors / Contributors: ISFI Festival receives funds from personal funders and individual during the festival. The Contributions are distributed among the performing artist as nominal fee and transportation expenses, Local Taxi, Administration, Printing, Vendors, Gifts and Momentous, Press Conference, Advertising, Manpower, Venue Charges, etc.
Other Organisations: The support from various organisations in the diverse festival enables the Foundation to create the appropriate platform with the contributions like providing artist, films, paintings, volunteers, Transport, take away Gifts, Books, etc.
Hospitality Support: The Support from the Hospitality partners provides the lodging and all meal's facility for the guest and artist. The Director Mr. Puneet Sharma, Hotel Swad Ri Dhani and Mr. Sathish Arora, Hotel Merwara palace is been supporting the cause wholeheartedly and unconditional support throughout the last two years of the mega event.
Design & Print Media: The contribution of Graphic Design Templin, Leading Designing House in Germany supports the advertising cost by designing the festival Logos, Brochures, Posters, etc.
Outdoor Advertising: The Advertising of outdoors like hoarding, Billboard is sponsored by the outdoor partner in Ajmer, Mumbai, Bangalore.
The Government Bodies : The localized Administration supports the Non-profit cause by providing assistance and also accommodation. No fee is charged by the local bodies. The Police security is given as and when required. The Government Venues are provided for a nominal charge or at times free of charges.
The Ministry of Home Affairs & External Affairs too have supported by timely responding to the communication and supporting documents are provided to the organisation.
Media / Television: The Local Leading Newspapers give immense support and coverage to promote the festival. All National and local leading television channels cover the event.
Freelance Journalist / Photographers: Coverage to the festival.