Mangaluru : The 33rd year Sri Krishna Vesha Spardhe, On the occasion of Sri krishna Janmashtami, a national-level children’s festival, will be held under the aegis of Kalkura Prathishtana at Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple on September 13.

Pradeep Kumar Kalkura told reporters that Krishna Vesha Spardhe’ (fancy dress competition) will be held in 30 categories for children and elders as part of the festival. The competitions will be held at eight venues arranged on the temple’s premises from 9 am.

He said more than 2,000 children and adults took part in the competitions held in 2016. The Prathisthana is expecting more participants, he added.

Drawing Sri Krishna in Rangoli is a new attraction this year. The rangoli should be 3X3 in size. The duration of the competition is two hours. Only colour powder should be used. The competitions will be held in Baala Vibhaga (Class 5 t0 7), Kishora Vibhaga (Class 8 to 10) and is open to all.

The other fancy dress competitions are ‘Kanda Krishna’ (for tiny tots below the age of one year. The children can be accompanied by their mother on the stage); ‘Muddukrishna’ (for toddlers under two years of age and mothers are allowed to come on to the stage along with the participants); Thuntakrishna (for children aged two and three years); ‘Balakrishna’ (for kids from anganwadi and LKG), ‘Kishora Krishna’ (for children from UKG and I std); ‘Sri Krishna’ (for II, III and IV standard children); Geetha Krishna (for students up to VII std In this category, children need to recreate Geethopadesha with costumes); ‘Yakshakrishna’ (for children upto X std, participants have to wear only Yakshagana (Badaguthittu, Thenkuthittu.); ‘Radhakrishna’ (children up to VII std (pair); ‘Yashodha Krishna’ (woman as Yashoda and any child as Krishna can participate with actions (no age limit for woman and child (Krishna up to 12 years); Shankhanada (for children up to VII std); ‘Shankhaudgosha (for above seventh std and open to all); ‘Devaki Krishna’ (mother (previous participants of the competition) as Devaki and her child as Krishna can take part); Vasudeva Krishna (men in traditional costume as Vasudeva and kid as Krishna can act. There is no age limit). However, plastic baskets are not allowed.

Even women can act as Vasudeva in male costumes. ‘Nanda Gokula’ (episode presentation of Lord Krishna’s life by a group i.e entire family members with minimum five members); Balakrishna quiz competition (for children up to VII standard); ‘Sri Krishna quiz contest (above VII std) and ‘Krishna photography’ in front of a stage in the temple premises.

The Sri Krishna Varna Vaibhava will be held in five categories viz ‘Shishu’ (I to VI std), ‘Baala Vibhaga’ (fifth to seventh standard, any drawing of Srikrishna); ‘Kishora vibhaga’ (for eighth to tenth std, water colour, any drawing related to Sri Krishna), ‘Taruna vibhaga’ (PU and degree, water colour, any drawing related to Sri Krishna) and open category. The competition will commence at 9 am.

‘Sri Krishna Gana Vaibhava,’ is open for participants who can sing folk, devotional and light music on Sri Krishna. It will be held in five categories.

Kalkura said that about 150 daily puja or traditional puja items will be given to children participating in the quiz competition as prizes. All participants will be felicitated with an idol of Udupi Kadegolu Krishna, made of Panchaloha along with books relating to stories of Sri Krishna, a certificate, a photo of Lord Kadri Sri Manjunatha and a copy of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita will be given for all the participants.

He said that the competitions are being organised to develop religious and cultural awareness and to encourage children to display their talents.