Harikatha / Kathakalakshepam Competition

Please read these rules carefully before registering for the competition.

Eligibility

  • The competition is an individual event. Groups will not be allowed to enter.
  • You must be of age 21 or less (as of March 1).

Application/Competition

  • The fee for this category is US $85 per entry
  • The topic for your discourse must be a krithi composed by St. Thyagaraja, to be explained in Harikatha form.
  • You should sing bits of the krithi, bring at least 2 analogies, anecdotes, or supporting stories from the puranas and ithihasas, and have some humor.
  • The spoken part of your performance may be in English.
  • A strict time limit of eight (8) minutes will be imposed. A buzzer will signal the conclusion of the allotted time. The judges may also request the contestant to stop before the allotted time.
  • The decision of the judges is final and binding.
  • The application for registration and associated entry fee must be received by the deadline, March 8, 2026.

Registration for the competition is now closed. You can still view your entry by logging into the registration page, but you cannot add or change any entries.