The World Sufi Spirit Festival is one of India's most unique celebration of music which brings the finest artists from across the world and the country, to two spectacular forts in Western Rajasthan - The Ahhichatragarh Fort in Nagaur, and Mehrangarh in Jodhpur. From Aramaic church chants to Andalusain-Arabic music, to the shared poetry of Hafiz, Khusrau and Rumi, this year, artists from Lebanon, Morocco, Tajikistan and Iran brought their distinctive genres of music and performed with renowned singers from India. We look at how the festival becomes a place to experience the cultural ties that have historically existed between India, Iran, Central Asia and the Middle East. We also explore the manner in which the festival becomes a catalyst to promote conservation and tourism through the intelligent use of culture.