Chhandayan International Competition of Performing Arts

Applications for 2026–27 are open through December 31, 2026

Each year, Chhandayan hosts an international competition across a variety of categories of Indian music and dance. Candidates are placed in levels based on their years of study, as certified by the Guru, teacher, or institution they study under.

Open to everyone. There is no age limit, and no prior affiliation with Chhandayan is required.
Entirely online. Every round, from application through the finals, is conducted remotely.
Judged by level, not age. Students are grouped by how long they have studied, so a beginner competes against beginners.

 

To apply, you will need:

  1. Consent letter from your Guru

  2. Proof of age

  3. Proof of address

  4. A free Google account

  5. Proof of payment

To view the form before you start the application, please click here

No Google account? There's another way to apply, further down this page.

Apply Now via Google Form
 

Levels

Levels are set by how long you have studied, not by age.

Level 1 — up to 3 years of studies
Level 2 — more than 3 years, up to 7 years of studies
Level 3 — more than 7 years, up to 10 years of studies

You must procure a consent letter from your Guru or institution. This letter must state your years of study. Applying at the wrong level is grounds for disqualification, so check with your teacher if you are unsure.

 

Subjects

Choose up to two. Each has its own repertoire requirements by level, outlined in the following section.

Vocal

Hindustani Classical
Dhrupad, Khayal

Hindustani Semi-Classical
Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal, Bhajan

Regional
Songs in Indian regional languages

Carnatic Classical
Devarnama, Varnam, Kritis of Thyagaraja

Instrumental

Hindustani Classical
Sitar, Sarod, Violin, Sarangi, Bansuri, Sehnai, Santoor, Slide Guitar and other instruments

Carnatic Classical
Veena, Violin, Bansuri, Nadeswaram, Mandolin, Saxophone and similar instruments

Percussion & Dance

Hindustani Percussion
Tabla, Pakhawaz, Shri Khol

Carnatic Percussion
Mridangam, Kanjira, Ghatam, Morsing, Tavil

Dance
Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Orissi

 

Subject Repertoires

  • Level 1 — a Dhrupad or Khayal in one of: Yaman, Bhoopali, Bilawal, Bhairab
    Level 2 — a Dhrupad or Khayal in one of: Bhairabi, Durga, Kafi, Jaunpuri
    Level 3 — a Dhrupad or Khayal in one of: Tori, Desh, Malkaunsh, Poorvi

    Include a brief alap and the bandish. You may sing more than one bandish and add other parts of the format, such as jor or jhala. You may choose your tempo.

  • Level 1 — Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal or Bhajan in raga: Kafi, Khamaj, Bhairabi; tala from Keharwa, Dadra
    Level 2 — Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal or Bhajan in raga: Pahari, Jogiya, Piloo; tala from Sitarkhani, Roopak
    Level 3 — Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal or Bhajan in raga: Tilang, Sohini, Jhinjhoti; tala from Deepchandi, Jat

    Perform in the form you registered for. Name the raga and tala on your submission. You may choose your tempo.

  • Level 1 — a song from your place of origin, in your mother tongue, in Keharwa or Dadra tala
    Level 2 — a song from a region beyond your place of origin, not in your mother tongue, in Keharwa, Dadra, Roopak or Sitarkhani tala
    Level 3 — a song from any region of India with a few improvisations, in Keharwa, Dadra, Deepchandi or Jhaptaal

    On your submission, name the source of the song — lyricist, composer — along with the raga or ragas and tala or talas. You are free to choose any raga, at any tempo.

  • Level 1 — one of: Varnam Ninnu Kori (Mohanam ragam, Adi talam); Vatapi Ganapatim (Hansadhwani ragam, Adi talam); Krishna ni Vegane Baro (Yaman Kalyani ragam, Mishra Chapu talam)
    Level 2 — one of: Samaja Varagamana (Hindola ragam, Adi talam); Shobillu Saptaswara (Jaganmohini ragam, Roopaka talam); Pakkala Nilabadi (Karaharapriya ragam, Mishra Chapu talam)
    Level 3 — any kriti in Bhairavi, Kambodi, or Purvi Kalyani, preceded by Kalpana Swara

  • Level 1 — in Tintaal, in one of the following ragas: Yaman, Bhoopali, Brindabani Sarang
    Level 2 — in Roopak taal, in one of the following ragas: Desh, Shyam Kalyan, Gurjari Tori
    Level 3 — in Jhaptaal, in one of the following ragas: Durga, Bihag, Bageshri, Malkaunsh, Lalit

    Include a brief alap and the gat. You may play more than one gat and add other parts of the format, such as jor or jhala. Any tempo.

  • Level 1 — one of: Varnam Ninnu Kori (Mohanam ragam, Adi talam); Vatapi Ganapatim (Hansadhwani ragam, Adi talam); Krishna ni Vegane Baro (Yaman Kalyani ragam, Mishra Chapu talam)
    Level 2 — one of: Samaja Varagamana (Hindola ragam, Adi talam); Shobillu Saptaswara (Jaganmohini ragam, Roopaka talam); Pakkala Nilabadi (Karaharapriya ragam, Mishra Chapu talam)
    Level 3 — any kriti in Bhairavi, Kambodi, or Purvi Kalyani, preceded by Kalpana Swara

  • A solo in:

    Level 1 — Tintaal (tabla); Chautaal (pakhawaz); Dasparayi or Lofa tala (Shri Khol)
    Level 2 — Roopak tala (tabla); Dhamar taal (pakhawaz); Ektali or Dothuki tala (Shri Khol)
    Level 3 — Jhaptaal (tabla); Surfanktaal (pakhawaz); Daskoshi or Roopak (Shri Khol)

    Any tempo. Your choice of format and material. Reciting compositions is permitted; please avoid additional commentary.

  • Level 1 — a Taniavartanam in Madhyama Kala Adi Talam, an eight-beat cycle
    Level 2 — a Taniavartanam in Vilamb Kala Adi Talam, a sixteen-beat cycle, or in Rupaka Talam
    Level 3 — a Taniavartanam in Mishra Chapu or Khanda Chapu Talam

    Any tempo. Your choice of format and material. Reciting compositions is permitted; please avoid additional commentary.

  • Kathak

    Level 1 — a solo in Madhyalaya Tintal with todas, chakradar todas, bol bants and tihais
    Level 2 — a solo in Vilambit to Madhyalaya Tintal with thaats, amads, kavits and tatkars
    Level 3 — a solo in Ektal, Jhaptal or Roopak taal, in any laya, with thaat, amad, kavit, todas and tatkars

    Bharatanatyam

    Level 1 — Alaripu, Kouthvam or Devaranama
    Level 2 — Jathiswaram, Shabdam or Devaranama
    Level 3 — Varnam with Trikala jathi and Pallavi, Thillana, or Kriti

    Orissi

    Level 1 — a composition using chowkas and tribhangis in any tala, Batu, a simple Pallabi
    Level 2 — Mangalacharan, Pallabi, Abhinaya on an Oriya song
    Level 3 — Pallabi, Abhinaya on Geeta Govinda, Moksha

 

Performance rules

These apply to every subject and level.

    • Choose your own accompanists, tell Chhandayan who they are at least two days before you perform, and cover any costs involved.

    • Appear in professional attire.

    • Be punctual.

    • You are responsible for the audio and video quality of your performance.

    • Use your own instruments and equipment.

    • Perform in line with the guidelines for your subject and level.

    • No help, suggestion, correction or interference from your Guru, teacher, parents, guardians or friends during the performance.

    • No technical assistance beyond what these guidelines allow.

    • Submit a video for the subject and level you registered for.

    • Perform a piece that follows the guidelines for that subject and level.

    • Stay within the time limit — 5 minutes at Level 1, 6 at Level 2, 7 at Level 3.

    • A professional studio or stage setting and a home setup are equally acceptable.

    • You decide on accompaniment. Live accompanists are your responsibility and your cost; accompaniment from an app or electronic device is permitted.

    • Appear in professional attire.

    • Balance the audio properly. No reverb, special equalization, auto-tune or other effects.

    • Light the room properly. Place the camera at an angle that captures the musicians and instruments clearly. If you perform with live accompanists, everyone must be visible. No video effects.

    • No aid, suggestion, correction, interference, gesture or sound of appreciation from anyone during the performance — we need a clean and neutral video.

  • The final is held live over Zoom.

    • Perform the subject and level you registered for, following its guidelines.

    • Be punctual and stay within the time limit.

    • A professional setting and a home setup are equally acceptable.

    • You decide on accompaniment. Live accompanists are your responsibility and your cost; accompaniment from an app or electronic device is permitted.

    • Appear in professional attire.

    • You are responsible for audio quality, video quality, and your internet connection.

    • Balance the audio properly. No reverb, special equalization, auto-tune or other effects.

    • Light the room properly and place the camera to capture the musicians and instruments clearly. If you perform with live accompanists, everyone must be visible. No video effects.

    • No aid, suggestion, correction, interference, gesture or sound of appreciation from anyone during the performance.

 

Application fee

Which fee applies depends on where you live.

If you live in Southern Asia

INR 500 — bank transfer

State Bank of India, South Sinthi Branch: 6C/1B, Kalicharan Ghosh Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700050
Account name: Chhandayan
Account type: Savings
Account number: 00000042749981057
IFSC code: SBIN0005374
SWIFT code: SBININBB106

Within India, use the IFSC code — transfers between Indian banks carry no fee. From elsewhere in Southern Asia, your bank will use the SWIFT code.

Please include the name of the participant in the memo for the transaction.

After transferring, enter your transaction reference number on the application form so your payment can be matched to your application.

If you live anywhere else

USD 43 — PayPal

This covers the USD 40 application fee plus PayPal's transaction charge, so the full fee reaches Chhandayan.

Pay with a PayPal account or any credit or debit card. A PayPal account is not required.

After paying, enter your PayPal Transaction ID on the application form, as well as the name of the person making the payment so your payment can be matched to your application.

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Before you apply

Have all four of these in hand. The application cannot be submitted without them.

Your payment reference — pay the application fee first. The form asks for your bank transaction reference number or PayPal transaction ID, along with the name and relationship of whoever made the payment.

A consent letter from your Guru — a signed letter from your most recent Guru, teacher, or institution confirming they support your application and stating how long you have studied with them.

Proof of age — a birth certificate or government-issued document showing date of birth.

Proof of address — a document from an authorized entity showing where you live. This also establishes which application fee applies to you.

Applications are completed through a Google Form, so you will need a free Google account to upload these documents.

If you do not wish to apply via Google Form, there is another way to apply below, under the “Ready to Apply” section.

 

Timeline

Sept 1 – Dec 31, 2026 — Applications accepted
Jan 10, 2027 — Preliminary screening complete. All applicants notified by January 15.
Jan 31, 2027 — Selected applicants submit performance videos
Feb 1 – 10, 2027 — Videos reviewed by a panel of experts in each subject
Feb 15, 2027 — Semi-final results announced, with dates and times for the finals
Feb 20 – 25, 2027 — Finals held live over Zoom
Feb 28, 2027 — Awards announced

 

Ready to apply?

Applications close December 31, 2026. Pay the application fee first — the form asks for your payment reference.
You will also need a free Google account and the four documents listed above.

Apply Now Via Google Form

Would rather not create a Google account?
Download the application form, fill it in, and email it to info@chhandayan.org with your three documents and payment reference

 

Questions

Email: info@chhandayan.org
WhatsApp India: +91 82405 79173
WhatsApp USA: +1 646 281 4062

 

Past Winners

  • Hindustani Classical Vocal
    Level 1:
    First: Manaswita Naskar ·
    Second: Debangshi Mandal

    Level 2:
    First: Kriti Chattopadhyay
    Level 3:
    First: Devansh Mishra
    Second: Daliya Mukherjee
    Third: Ananya Tiwari

    Hindustani Semi-Classical Vocal
    Level 1:
    First: Kriti Chattopadhyay

    Hindustani Regional Vocal
    Level 1:
    First: Aishani Singh

    Hindustani Instrumental
    Level 1:
    First: Goirik Bhattacharya
    Second: Anukalpa Ghosh
    Level 2:
    First: Aditya Deshpande
    Second: Shounak Majumdar
    Level 3:
    First: Sagar Despande
    Second: Souvagya Karmarkar

    Hindustani Percussion
    Level 1:
    First: Shreyas Dattatreya Bhoir
    Level 2:
    First: Akshaj Kulkarni
    Level 3:
    First: Swapnarshi Mali

    Carnatic Instrumental
    Level 3:
    First: Rishi K

  • Classical Vocal
    Level 1:
    First: Kriti Chattopadhyay
    Level 2:
    First: Tanishka Nandi
    Level 3:
    First: Mridvika Malebennur

    Semi-Classical Vocal
    Special Award: Kriti Chattopadhyay

    Instrumental
    Level 1:
    First: Rajvi Mukherjee
    Second: Sandhya Bisoondial Singh
    Third: Jyotika Deb
    Level 2:
    First: Mira Jogikalmath
    Second: Arkadyuti Haldar
    Third: Dhiman Bairagi
    Level 3:
    First: Asim Biswas
    Second: Mugdha Basu
    Third: Sarang Anand

    Percussion
    Level 1:
    First: Samapriyo Goswami
    Level 2:
    First: Akshaj Kulkarni