Representatives and scholars of 34 religious and cultural institutes of the two countries attended a meeting in the holy city of Qom earlier this month to discuss the organization of the festival.
Askari Cultural Association for Indian seminary students held the meeting at Hojjatiyya School of Al-Mustafa International University.
It was also attended by Gholamreza Mahdawi, former representative of the university in India and Hojat-ol-Islam Wali Al-Hassan Razawi.
The international festival will aim to the spread the teachings of Imam Sajjad (AS) and his Seerah.
It will include publication of a collection of poems on the virtues of the Imam (AS), organization of cultural competitions such as book-reading, essay-writing and painting competition, production of a documentary about the Imam and holding religious sessions to better introduce the Imam's character and teachings to university and school students.
The organizers of the festival also plan to launch a website featuring content on the character of Imam Sajjad (AS) and various aspects of his supplications.
The Imam’s role in conveying the message of Ashura will be the main theme to be clarified by the preachers during the lunar Hijri months of Muharram and Safar (October-November).