VANDĒ MĀTARAM 150
Global Music and Dance Contest
A video contest on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Vandē Mātaram, the Indian National Song.
Reference Videos
Vande Mataram on Instrument
Contest Details
Prizes
Categories | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize |
Junior (Up to US 8th Grade or equivalent) | Gold Plaque | Silver Plaque | Bronze Plaque |
Senior (US 9th Grade or equivalent and above) | Gold Plaque | Silver Plaque | Bronze Plaque |
Winners will also receive a certificate.
All participants will receive a refrigerator magnet of Bharat Mata with the Vande Mataram 150 inscription.
Categories
1. Karnataka Shastreeya Sangeeta
2. Hindusthani Shastreeya Sangeeta
3. Bharatanatya
4. Kathak
5. Koochipoodi
6. Indian semiclassical music (Bhavageete and other light music)
7. Indian folk dances (Bhangra, Yakshagana, etc.)
8. World Music (Western, Western Classical, Fusion, Non-Indian style, etc.)
For a complete list of subcategories, please see the Registration section on this page.
Each category and its subcategories will have their own prize.
Timeline
Last date for registration
Feb 28, 2026
Registration with a late fee
April 30, 2026
Video submission last date
April 30, 2026
Winners announcement
May 30th, 2026
Instructions
Registration
- Register separately for each category/subcategory you participate in.
- Multiple registrations in the same category by one person count as one entry.
- Seniors may compete only in senior segments. But Juniors may compete in junior and/or senior segments with separate registrations.
- Group entries must have at least 4 participants.
- Contest will be held only if there are enough contestants in a given category/subcategory; otherwise, fees will be refunded.
Performance
- Accompaniments are allowed. Judging is based on performance and video quality.
- The video must be made only for this contest and not shared elsewhere.
- Participants agree that selected videos may be posted on Sangeeta Bharati platforms.
- Proof of age may be requested for junior winners.
Song
- Must include all stanzas in the original language (Sanskritized Bengali).
- Manodharma (improvisation) is given special consideration at the senior level.
Dancers may use any culturally appropriate recording, but only with the complete lyrics provided on this page (no instrumental-only tracks).
Repetition of lines/stanzas is allowed for improvisation.
- Expressions and attire should reflect the meaning and culture.
Recording
- Perform from memory; no scripts or notes.
- No captions or personal details in the video.
- Record in an aesthetic setting suitable for Indian Fine Arts.
- All performers must be visible head to toe (unless otherwise required for cinematography).
- Use a steady camera, landscape mode, HD/4K MP4.
- Edited/cinematographed videos may get special mention. You can view one such video at this link.
Upload
- File name format: Category_Contestant’sFullName.mp4.
- Upload by April 30, 2026, using the link.
Evaluation
A team of juries in their respective categories will evaluate based on the following criteria.
General
- [Diction] Rendering complete sahitya with proper pronunciation, punctuation, and culturally appropriate presentation.
- [Classical Music] Mastery in the presentation of the raga and tala.
- Appealing in singing or dancing (saukhya).
- Appropriate expressions and emotions (bhāva).
- Overall presentability of the video.
Bharatanatya
In addition to the general criteria, please refer to this rubric for a complete evaluation criteria.
World Music
World Music entries will be evaluated on musical excellence, creative interpretation of the spirit of Vande Mataram, cultural authenticity of the chosen style, technical proficiency, and overall presentation quality. Adaptations should respect both the original composition and the musical tradition being represented.
In addition to the general criteria, please refer to this rubric for the complete evaluation criteria.
Vandē Mātaram Sāhitya (Lyrics)
Lyrics in Dēvanāgari
Lyrics in English
Meaning
वन्दे मातरम् ।
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
सस्यश्यामलां मातरम् ।
वन्दे मातरम् ॥१॥
vandē mātaram |
sujalām suphalām malayaja-shītalām
sasya-shyāmalām mātaram |
vandē mātaram ||1||
I bow to the Mother, who is rich in water, rich in fruits, cooled by gentle breezes, and green with abundant crops.
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीम्
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीम्
सुहासिनीं सुमधुरभाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ।
वन्दे मातरम् ॥२॥
shubhra-jyōtsnā-pulakita-yāminīm
phulla-kusumita-drumadala-shōbhinīm
suhāsinīm sumadhura-bhāśhiṇīm
sukhadām varadām mātaram |
vandē mātaram ||2||
I bow to the Mother whose nights glow with pure moonlight, who is adorned with blossoming trees, who smiles gently, speaks sweetly, and bestows happiness and blessings.
कोटिकोटिकण्ठकलकलनिनादकराले
कोटिकोटिभुजैर्धृतखरकरवाले
अबला केन मा एत बले?
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीम्
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ।
वन्दे मातरम् ॥३॥
kōṭi-kōṭī-kanṭha-kala-kala-ninādakarālē
kōṭi-kōṭi-bhujairdhṛuta-kharakaravālē
abalā kēna mā ēta balē?
bahubala-dhāriṇīm namāmi tāriṇīm
ripudala-vāriṇīm mātaram |
vandē mātaram ||3||
I bow to the Mother whose millions of voices roar together, whose countless arms hold weapons of defense. How can she be called weak? I bow to that powerful Mother—protector, savior, and destroyer of enemies.
तुमि विद्या तुमि धर्म
तुमि हृदि तुमि मर्म
त्वं हि प्राणाः शरीरे।
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति
तोमारै प्रतिमा गडि मन्दिरे मन्दिरे ।
वन्दे मातरम् ॥४॥
tumi vidyā tumi dharma
tumi hṛudi tumi marma
twam hi prāṇāha sharīrē |
bāhutē tumi mā shakti
hṛudayē tumi mā bhakti
tōmārai pratimā gaḍi mandirē mandirē |
vandē mātaram ||4||
You are knowledge and righteousness; you are the heart and the soul. You are the life within our bodies. In our arms, you are strength; in our hearts, you are devotion. It is your very image that we enshrine and worship. I bow to You, Mother.
त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी नमामि त्वाम् ।
नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलाम्
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ।
वन्दे मातरम् ॥५॥
twam hi durgā dasha-praharaṇa-dhāriṇī
kamalā kamala-dala-vihāriṇī
vāṇī vidyādāyinī namāmi twām |
namāmi kamalām amalām atulām
sujalām suphalām mātaram |
vandē mātaram ||5||
Our motherland is revered as Durga, powerful enough to protect and destroy evil; as Lakshmi, beautiful and prosperous like a lotus; and as Saraswati, the giver of wisdom and culture. She is fertile, rich in water and harvests, and morally pure and incomparable.
श्यामलां सरलां
सुस्मितां भूषिताम्
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ।
वन्दे मातरम् ॥६॥
shyāmalām saralām
susmitām bhūśhitām
dharaṇīm bharaṇīm mātaram |
vandē mātaram ||6||
The motherland is green, gentle, beautiful, and compassionate, yet fundamentally nurturing and life-sustaining, deserving of deep respect, love, and worship. I bow to the Mother.
We recommend using the script in Devanagari. If someone has to use the English script, please note that the compound words of Indian languages are split with hyphens for ease of reading. However, readers should read it as a single word, ignoring the hyphens.