What is Gujarati Competition?

Gujarati Competition is an effort to promote the Gujarati language and increase the awareness of Gujarati culture, history, norms, values, traditions, and food. This year GMOCO will continue the Gujarati Competition during Holi Mela 2025 in following categories - Essay (નિબંધ), Show & Tell, Poem Recitation/ Story Telling (કવિતા/ વાર્તા  પઠન), Art (ચિત્ર) for five different age groups. Registration is required for all categories and the submission will occur prior the Holi Mela event. 

Essay - નિબંધ, Show & Tell, Poem Recitation/ Story Telling (કવિતા/ વાર્તા  પઠન), and Art - ચિત્ર require participants to send their Poem Recitation/ Story Telling video, Show & Tell, copy of the essay, artwork before the submission deadline. Participants’ submitted work will be displayed at the Holi Mela. Winners will be announced during the event. Refer to the table below for a list of topics and groups. Detailed rules are provided further down. 

One of the objectives of our Mandal per Article III of the constitution is “To assist the members and their children to learn the Gujarati language and to retain their cultural heritage.”. We hope you will encourage your children to participate. Don't forget, adults can participate as well.

Registration 

Registration Deadline for all groups and all items: Sunday, March 23, 8:00 pm

Submission Deadline for all groups and all categories: Sunday, March 30, 8:00 pm (you can submit prior to the deadline)

Click below to register. 

www.gmoco.org/gujreg

click link below to submit 

http://gmoco.org/gujcompsub

Category/Group/Topic

Rules 

Rules Applicable To All Categories

• An individual can participate in multiple categories

• All participants will receive a certificate and participation gift

• A minimum of 5 entries are required for each category in each group for the item to be considered a competition. If we receive fewer than 5 entries in a particular category and group, you will receive a participation gift, but the entries will only be judged for the first prize.

Essay - નિબંધ 

• Participation is open to Groups 2, 3, and Adults

• Topics 

• Group 2: મકર સંક્રાંતિ - પતંગ ઉત્સવ વિશે લખો (Write about Kite Festival/ Makar Sankranti)

• Group 3: પ્રયાગ રાજ  મહા કુંભની  વિશેષતા  (Significance of Prayag Raj Maha Kumbh)

• Adults: પ્રયાગ રાજ  મહા કુંભ - આપનું મંતવ્ય  (Your opinion on Prayag Raj Maha Kumbh)

• The participant must write in Gujarati

• The essay must not be more than 750 words, approximately 2 page

• The essay can be handwritten or typed in Gujarati

• Capture your essay with a digital device and upload it to the link provided after registration

• Essays will be available to view on the GMOCO website after the Holi program

• Writing and capturing (photo) tips:

• Write on a lined notebook paper, use black/blue pen

• Write your name and participant ID (provided after registration) on the top left corner

• Write legibly, skip lines for easy reading

• Use a phone app such as CamScanner to adjust for skew, border crop, light, etc.

• Make sure the file you submit is of high-resolution original quality. Upload the file from the same device you used to capture the image. Sending files over messaging apps often reduces the quality. 

Show & Tell 

• Participation is open to Groups K, 1,  2, and 3

• Topics 

• ગુજરાત - તમારી દ્રષ્ટિએ (પ્રવાસના સ્થળો, મંદિરો, ખાણીપીણી, પરંપરાગત વાનગીઓ, રમતો). Gujarat - through your eyes (Tourist places, Temples, Food, Traditional cuisine, Sports)

• Create a standard-sized poster board (36”x48”)

• Attach the pictures of topic of your choice

• Write about pictures in the bottom part of the poster

• Create a video explaining your pictures

• The participant must speak in Gujarati

• Speaking time maximum 4 minutes, speech beyond 4 minutes will not be judged

• Please devote the entire 4 minutes to the topic, do not include your name, topic, age group, background music or noise

• Record your show and tell video and upload it to the link provided after registration

• Poster will be available to view on the GMOCO website after the Holi program

• Video recording tips:

• Record in a well-lit area

• Choose a clear background

• Speak clearly 

• Traditional Gujarati outfits encouraged

• For better results, a light source (window, lamp, etc.) must be in front of the subject

• Make sure the file you submit is of high-resolution and original quality. Upload the file from the same device you used to capture the video. Transferring files over messaging apps may reduce video quality. 

Poetry Recitation/ Story Telling

• Participation is open to Groups K, 1,  2, and 3

• Topics 

• Group 1: બાળ વાર્તા / બાળ કવિતા (Children Story/ Poem)

• All Other Groups - હાસ્ય / વ્યંગ, પ્રેમ, સંબંધ, જીવન , દેશ પ્રેમ (Humour, Love, Relations, Life, Patriotism)

• Create a video of you telling a story or reciting poetry

• The participant must speak in Gujarati

• Speaking time maximum 4 minutes, speech beyond 4 minutes will not be judged

• Please devote the entire 4 minutes to the topic, do not include your name, topic, age group, background music or noise

• Record your speech and upload it to the link provided after registration

• Your video will be available to view on the GMOCO website after the Holi program

• Video recording tips:

• Record in a well-lit area

• Choose a clear background

• Speak clearly 

• Traditional Gujarati outfits encouraged

• For better results, a light source (window, lamp, etc.) must be in front of the subject

• Make sure the file you submit is of high-resolution and original quality. Upload the file from the same device you used to capture the video. Transferring files over messaging apps may reduce video quality. 

Art - ચિત્ર કળા 

• Participation is open to Groups K, 1, 2, 3, and Adults

• Topics (for all age groups)

• મહા કુંભ / મકર સંક્રાંતિ - Maha Kumbh / Makar Sankranti

• The artwork must not be smaller than 8.5” x 11” 

• Artwork may be pencil sketch, paint, crayons, etc. no crafts, please

• Capture your artwork with a digital device and upload it to the link provided after registration

• Artwork will be available to view on the GMOCO website after the Holi program

• Writing and capturing (photo) tips:

• Write on a lined notebook paper, use black/blue pen

• Write your name and participant ID (provided after registration) on the top left corner

• Write legibly, skip lines for easy reading

• Use a phone app such as CamScanner to adjust for skew, border crop, light etc.

• Make sure the file you submit is of high-resolution original quality. Upload the file from the same device you used to capture the image. Sending files over messaging apps often reduces the quality.