The Annual Cultural Competition 2025 was hosted at the Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral House and Cultural Centre. This event unfolds in two stages—an initial online round, followed by a final offline contest for shortlisted participants.
The competition features 10 diverse events, each designed to nurture creativity, intellect, and discipline among students: Quiz, Speech recital (Bengali & English), Essay Writing, Elocution, Yogasanas, Sanskrit Chanting, Abritti, Drawing and Music. Participants are grouped into three age categories, ensuring fair and age-appropriate evaluation. The program commenced with registration on June 15, 2025, and concluded with a prize distribution ceremony on November 9, 2025.
A remarkable 2,105 students from across different states of India have registered for this year’s competition, reflecting the growing enthusiasm and cultural engagement among youth. On-line submissions were received and the contents were evaluated. A total of 20 students were shortlisted under each category for a given event. To identify the top five performers, off-line competitions were organized. A total of 454 offline participants took part in the event, among whom 171 students were declared prize winners. All winners, along with the off-line participants, were honored during the Prize Distribution Ceremony held on 9th November 2025. The occasion was graced by Swami Suparnanandaji Maharaj, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, who attended as the chief guest. He, along with other distinguished dignitaries, presented cash prizes, certificates, and mementos to the winners, acknowledging their commendable efforts and achievements.
The event received generous financial support from the Vivekananda Study & Philanthropic Centre (VSPC), based in New York, USA. A total of ₹2 lakh in cash prizes was distributed, while the overall event expenditure amounted to ₹5 lakh, covering mementos, catering, and other contingencies. In a remarkable gesture of encouragement, the Centre announced 25 educational scholarships to deserving candidates who will be selected from among the prize winners. Additionally, 18 students who were already beneficiaries of VSPC scholarships worth Rs. 85,500 were ceremoniously presented with their scholarship money on stage during the event. This competition not only fosters artistic and intellectual growth but also honors the legacy of Swami Vivekananda by inspiring young minds to strive for excellence.
