General Rules & Regulations                                          Download

1. Entries are to be submitted to the Samajam office in the prescribed Entry Form with all the details called for therein, duly filled in.

2. The closing date for entries shall be Thursday, 17th April 2008 10.00 PM, will not be extended. 

3. Competitors shall strictly adhere to the relevant rules and regulations laid down by the Executive Committee and officials appointed by them.


4. The Executive Committee reserves the right to cancel any event or alter the programme schedule without assigning reasons. 

5. A participant may enter the competition subject to the following restrictions:

a) Talent Test - Maximum Five items 

b) Talent Nite - Maximum Five items

c) Not including the events 7,9,11 and 13 of Talent Test, the maximum number of entries per participant is restricted to Six (see page no 2).

6. Events with less than five entrants will be cancelled. The affected contestant has the option to choose another event in the same category within two days of the notification of cancellation. 
7. No prizes will be given for the events where the number of actual contestants falls below three. In such cases they will be awarded grade points, if applicable, which will count towards the overall championships.

8. For all the events, the decision of the judges shall be final and binding. No discussions or complaints will be entertained after the event. 

9. In the event of a dispute, the decision of the Executive Committee or any other body appointed by them shall be final and binding on all concerned. 

10. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against any member or participant who violates the rules and regulations or indulges in arguments with the judges/officials.

11. Certificates and trophies will be awarded to First, Second and Third prize winners.

First, Second and Third places will have a valuation of Five, Three and One point(s) respectively. 

The performance of each participant for each event will be graded as A, B or C

A Grade - 70% and above marks
B Grade - 60% to 69% marks
C Grade - 50% to 59% marks

A, B and C grades will have a valuation of Five, Three and One point(s) respectively.

12. Subjects for Events such as Painting, Pencil Drawing, Clay Modelling, Poster Design, Essay Writing, Poem Writing and Short Story Writing, will be announced just prior to commencement of the event. For Speech contests, the subject will be provided 10 minutes prior to the commencement of the event. For Painting competition for Group 1 & II and Pencil Drawing for Group II, the participant can choose any subject. 

13. For Painting competition, the participants can use any type of colouring medium. For Pencil drawing competition, participant shall use only lead pencil. 

14. General Knowledge test for Group-I will be oral. The majority of the questions will be about Kingdom of Bahrain, Kerala & India. In addition to the above topics, Group 2 questions may include GCC countries, expansion of abbreviations, inventors, geographical facts and personalities in world politics. Group 3, 4 & 5 contestant should be aware of all the above topics. Questions can be expected from literature, science, sports current affairs and world around us. The level of the test will be match the age of contestants.

15. Intelligence test, Group I will also be oral. Simple arithmetic, easy puzzles and visual comprehension will be tested. For all the other groups, general aptitude, logical reasoning, puzzles etc will be tested.

16. For Vegetable Carving Competition:
a) Participant will have to bring the required carving objects and tools for the competition.
b) Fruits and Vegetables shall be used for the competition. No pre-carved objects will be allowed.
c) Participant will have to bring the base plate required to display the model for judgement.
d) For reinforcement purposes, toothpicks can be used. No other objects will be permitted for this purpose.

17. For Clay Modelling Competition:
a) Clay required for the modelling work will be provided by the Samajam.
b) Only a finite amount of clay will be provided with which the participant shall make the model.
c) Painting on the model and use of any tools or moulds will not be allowed.
d) Participant will have to bring the base plate required to display the model for judgement.
e) For reinforcement purposes, toothpicks can be used. No other objects will be permitted for this purpose.

18. For poem recitation, the introduction about the author and poem should be brief. Too much of action and melody is not expected from the participants. 

19. For Classical Music competition, the participant has to bring their own 'Sruthi boxes'

20. For instrumental music, no electronic instruments with pre recorded facility shall be used. The use of pre-set tones in key board is permitted. Such instruments will be subjected to the inspection and approval of the competent authority appointed by the Executive Committee. The name of the instrument shall be entered in the Entry form.

21. Film songs shall not be used for Folk Dance, Mappilapattu, Group Song and Malayalam Light music competitions. If the actual entries for Light Music, Folk dance, Mappilapattu, Malayalam Poem Recitation and Film Song competitions for Group 3, 4 & 5 boys/girls fall below five in any one category, then, the competition will be conducted as a common event. 

22. For Film Song competition, songs have to be from Malayalam Films and in Malayalam Language.

23. For Mono act the participant presents a theme involving variety of expressions/ characters. Mimicking has no weightage in Mono act. The participants may use English, Malayalam or Hindi as the language for expressing their theme

24. For Fancy dress competition, moderate verbal expressions are allowed, subject to the relevance of the character. Presentation will be disqualified in case the participant uses any pre-recorded sound effects or any special light effects. No advantage will be accorded for stage settings.

25. For Mime event:
a) The maximum presentation time is five minutes only.
b) The participants shall not speak or sing and shall convey the message through actions only.
c) Presentation will be disqualified in case the participants use any masks or stage props.
d) If required the face of the participant can be painted.
e) Sound effects (instrumental without lyrics) if required shall be allowed, for which the contestant will have to make his/her own arrangement.
f) Live briefing about the theme of the presentation, for a maximum of one minute, shall be allowed. The participant will have to provide the text which will be announced by an official.

26. Following are the brief guidelines of judgement criteria for some of the events: 

The following criteria given are guidelines only. The Judges are authorized to alter and/or amend the judgment criteria as appropriate. For all events, decision of the judges shall be final and binding to all participants

Speech: Introduction, Structuring & Organizing, Language (Grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary), Voice modulation, Effectiveness, Conclusion 

Poem Recitation: Clarity, Memorisation, Appropriateness of body language, Rhyme & Rhythm, Overall performance. 

Story Telling : Clarity, Memorisation, Appropriateness of body language, Voice modulation,
Conclusion. 

Classical Music: Shruthi, Layam, Thalam, Manodharmam, Sahithyasudhi

Light Music: Shruthilayam, Clarity & Memorisation, Sahithyasudhi, Thalam

Mappilapattu : Shruthi, Layam, Thalam, Clarity, Mappila Thanima 

Fancy Dress : Make up, Costume, Theme, Novelty, Overall presentation

Mono Act: Acting skill, Selection of situation, Novelty, Voice modulation
Overall performance

Pencil Drawing: Imagination, Quality of work, Neatness & Finishing, Clarity.

Painting: Imagination, Colour Combination, Quality of work, Neatness & Finishing. 

Poster Design: Aptness to the theme, Novelty, Colour Combination, Appearance, 
Logo & Caption. 

Clay Modelling: Aptness to the theme, Appearance, Skill, Overall.

Essay Writing: Introduction, Structure & Organization, Content, Language, Conclusion. 
Short-Story Writing: Introduction, Body, Imagination, Content, Language, Conclusion

Poem Writing: Introduction, Body, Imagination, Content, Language, Conclusion

Folk Dance : Appropriate Costume, Thalam, Expression, Body language, Steps 

Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam & Kuchipudi : Angasudhi and Interpretation , Costume, Expression, Mudra, Thalam, Steps – Adavu.

Cinematic Dance: Rhythm & Steps, Choreography, Expression, Costume (Appropriateness, decency), Overall presentation.

Western Dance : Music, Costume (Appropriateness, decency), Rhythm, Choreography, Overall presentation

Mime : Acting skill, Variety of Characters, Novelty, Theme, Clarity of Message 

27. For Western Dance participants shall wear western attire and shoes. Music and steps shall be western. Decorum shall be maintained in the dress and steps performed.

28. For Cinematic Dance only Indian Film Music from any Indian Languages with appropriate costume will be accepted. Decency and decorum shall be strictly maintained in the dress and steps performed.

29. For Bharatanatyam Group 3, participants are expected to perform a Padam only. For Bharatanatyam Group 4 and 5 participants are expected to perform a Varnam.

30. For Poster Design Competition,
a) Participants have to create a Poster illustrating the concepts of a particular theme, which will be provided at the commencement of the competition.
b) Participants can use any type of colouring medium and pencils to create the Poster. 
c) Objects other than the above specified medium cannot be used in the Poster.
d) The Poster created should include a Logo (which will be provided during the competition). 
e) An appropriate caption (in Malayalam or English) relevant to the theme must be included in the Poster.
f) Creations deemed offensive will be disqualified.

31. For Mappilapattu, the song should conform to the Arabic-Malayalam Literary tradition. Devotional songs, Oppana songs, or Mailanji songs will not be considered under Mappilapattu.


32. Order of stage appearance shall be decided by lot. Priority numbers will be taken by lot 10 minutes before the commencement of each stage event.

33. Participants must strictly adhere to the reporting time. Any participant reporting after the priority number allotment at any cause will not be allowed to participate in that stage event. Any communication in this regard, prior to the commencement of the event, will not be entertained. 

34. Participants must adhere to the time limit specified for each event. Participants, exceeding the time limit will be disqualified.

35. No special light or sound effects shall be allowed in the competition. 

36. No personal video/photography will be allowed during the competitions.

37. Persons other than participants and officials will not be allowed behind the stage during the competition.

38. An entry fee of BD1 per item per participant will be charged for the events.

39. An initial list of eligible participants will be displayed on the Samajam notice board on 19th April 2008 (08:00 PM). 

40. Contestants or their parents are to verify this list and bring to the notice of the Samajam, any errors and omissions in this list not later than 21st April 2008. The Final list will be published on 23rd April 2008.

41. The Programme schedule will be displayed on the BKS notice board on 25th April 2008. 

42. The tentative date of Balakalotsavam-2008 (including the Talent Nite) commencement is 30th April 2008.

43. Please visit the BKS website www.bahrainkeraleeyasamajam.com for up to date details on the Balakalotsam-2008.

44. Parents may forward their suggestions if any to the mail ID tijimathew@yahoo.com  or drop in the suggestion box at the BKS reception latest by 15th April 2008.