2023 Bhagavad Gita Competition

Srimad Bhagavad Gita competition

Rules

Fees: $11.00 per student (once payment is made, wait for the page to redirect to the registration form)

Reciting competition

• Level 1 - Grades K-1 - Recite Chapter 14 verses 1-8 from memory
• Level 2 - Grades 2-5 - Recite Chapter 14 verses 1-16 from memory
• Level 3 - Grades 6-12 - Recite the entire chapter 14 from memory
• Level 4 - Special needs children of Sankara's Medha project. 

Reading competition (Devanagari)

• Level 1 - Grades K-1 - Not applicable
• Level 2 - Grades 2-5 - Reading 8 verses in devanagari that will be provided
• Level 3 - Grades 6-12 - Reading 16 verses in devanagari that will be provided
• Level 4 - Not applicable

Rules

Attendance

Competition will be open to everyone. Registrants from MA, NH, RI must participate in-person. Zoom link will be shared only for out-station registrants. These will be separate categories. No exceptions.

Prizes

It is important to remember that the only person the participant is competing is against themselves. Prizes will not be for 1, 2 & 3 standings - rather for different scoring ranges. Say for a score of 95-100, 90-95, 85-90 and so on. So, many participants can get be at the same level without being penalized by a 1-2-3 prize.

Every participant will be awarded a certificate of participation.

Rules

Participants will be judged on Pronunciation, Memory and Presentation.

• Pronunciation is the ability to chant the verses correctly according to the pronunciation rules of Sanskrit.
• Memory is the ability to chant the specified verses without any break, long pause or hesitation. Note: If a participant is unable to recollect the next quarter or word, he or she can request for a prompt from the judge panel. This however shall be considered as a memory lapse.
• Presentation refers to the clarity and loudness of chanting, consistency in speed, confidence, posture, and calm devotional attitude during chanting. Adhering to the respective meter (Chandas/vṛttam) shall also be one of the criteria. The handout provided for the chapter has the verses split in to four quarters, based on the meter.
• Note: Tune shall not be a criterion for judgment (but adherence to meter will be) 

Reference Text

The reference text that will be used by the judges is linked below. Registrants may use that to practice with as well

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-yfE0KnBzP3MBzCjuIhaelg1pavYovIP/view?usp=sharing

Recording

Participants may use Pujyashri Swami Paramarthananda's recording to practice https://youtu.be/fF-DJeZNXb4