A Not-for-Profit Community Program
Impact
Festival
A journey back to our roots — Sidhpur, Gujarat
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A Not-for-Profit Community Program
A journey back to our roots — Sidhpur, Gujarat
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Our Mission
Impact Festival is a not-for-profit program that shares and celebrates diverse Ismaili backgrounds through cultural celebration, community engagement, and collaboration — to create an unforgettable lifetime experience.
Ismaili families from across the USA gather in one place — on the other side of the world — with the local jamat of North Gujarat.
Walk the villages where our grandparents grew up. Give the next generation a living connection to their heritage — not just stories.
Engage with the local community and its needs, so this trip leaves something behind that lasts for generations.
Why Sidhpur?
For many Ismaili families in America, the road home leads to the villages of North Gujarat — the Sidhpur, Patan, and Mehsana region where our community's roots run centuries deep. This is the land where early Pirs first shared the faith, where our great-grandparents farmed, traded, and built jamatkhanas, and from where families set out for East Africa, Karachi, and eventually America.
Sidhpur itself is one of Gujarat's most beautiful heritage towns — famous for its pastel-colored historic havelis, the thousand-year-old Rudra Mahalaya, and the sacred Bindu Sarovar lake. It sits on the banks of the Saraswati River, about 2.5 hours north of Ahmedabad — surrounded by the very villages so many of our families come from.
December is the perfect month to visit: cool mornings, sunny days around 75°F, and festival season in full swing.
The Experience
A festival by day, a celebration by night — designed for all ages, from grandparents returning home to kids seeing India for the first time.
Evening mela under the lights — live music, garba and dandiya, and a grand community dinner bringing the USA and Gujarat jamats together.
An open-air concert evening with food stalls, games, and performances — a true Gujarati mela on festival grounds.
Guided visits to the villages your family came from. Walk the streets, visit the jamatkhana, and meet the families who stayed.
Sidhpur's havelis and Rudra Mahalaya, Bindu Sarovar, and day trips to Rani ki Vav and the Patola weavers of Patan.
See the schools, health, and rural development work of the Aga Khan Development Network across North Gujarat.
A dedicated youth program — games, cricket, heritage scavenger hunts, and service activities that connect kids to their roots.
Full Gujarati thali, street-food nights, fresh jalebi-fafda mornings — every meal is part of the experience, and it's all included.
Volunteer alongside the local jamat on a service project — the "impact" in Impact Festival.
Stay with local Ismaili host families or in coordinated hotel blocks — comfortable options for every group, arranged by the organizing team.
Program Outline
Four days of festival, December 24th through the 27th. The final day-by-day program will be shared with registered guests.
Draft program — activities and order subject to change as planning continues.
Partners
Impact Festival is a not-for-profit program made possible by the generosity of our community.
Grand sponsorships, day sponsorships, and in-kind donations help us keep this experience affordable for every family.
Sponsor a dinner, a concert night, the youth camp, or village transportation — and be recognized throughout the festival.
No family should miss this journey because of cost. Confidential financial assistance is available for those who need support to attend.
All requests are handled privately and with dignity — just reach out.
Good to Know
A 4-day, not-for-profit community celebration held December 24–27, 2026 in Sidhpur, Gujarat — bringing Ismaili families from across the USA back to the region where our community's roots began, together with the local jamat, for food, music, heritage tours, and community impact.
December 24–27, 2026. Four days of festival, Thursday Dec 24 through Sunday Dec 27. Most guests will arrive a day early and leave a day after. Sign up above and we'll keep you updated before you book flights.
The festival program covers your meals and all festival venues and events — the dinners, dandiya nights, concert, mela, and organized programs. Details on the full package will be shared with registered guests.
No — guests arrange their own flights to India. Most travelers fly into Ahmedabad (AMD), about 2.5 hours from Sidhpur by road. Book early: late December is peak holiday season for India travel, so fares rise sharply and seats sell out months ahead. We'll share travel guidance and group-coordination options as the event approaches.
We're arranging block hotel bookings, host-family stays with local Ismaili homes, and other options at a range of comfort levels. Accommodation details and pricing will be shared with registered guests.
US passport holders need an Indian visa or e-Visa (OCI cardholders don't). The e-Tourist Visa is a simple online application — we'll send step-by-step guidance to everyone who signs up. Apply early!
Beautiful — North Gujarat in December means sunny days around 75–82°F and cool, pleasant evenings around 55°F. Bring a light jacket for the nights.
Absolutely — this is designed as a multigenerational trip. There's a dedicated youth camp, and we're planning accessible transportation and seating for seniors. Tell us about your group's needs in the sign-up form.
Yes. All festival meals will be halal, with abundant vegetarian options — this is Gujarat, after all, home of India's best vegetarian food.
Yes! Family joining from India, Canada, or anywhere else is welcome. Note it in your sign-up and we'll plan accordingly.
Yes — many families have rediscovered their ancestral villages through elders and local jamat records. Tell us what you know and our local team will help trace it before the trip.
A volunteer team from our community, working with local jamati leaders in Gujarat. For any questions, contact the Impact Festival Team — info@theimpactfestival.com.
Questions or Support
Contact our organizing team any time
Impact Festival Team
info@theimpactfestival.com