Inaugural Edition | 2026 | Registration opens soon | Be notified →
How to Participate

Your journey to recognition.

The Process

Five phases, one destination.

  1. 01

    Registration

    Create your participant account and confirm your chosen category. Provide your details as a designer, brand, artisan or student.
    Registration is free you only pay the submission fee when you are ready to submit.

  2. 02

    Entry Preparation

    Prepare your entry materials including high-resolution images (JPEG/PNG, minimum 2000px on the long side), a design statement describing the piece’s sacred intent and supporting technical documentation. Review the submission guidelines carefully before preparing your files.

  3. 03

    Submission

    Complete the online submission form. Upload your images, fill in all required fields, pay the submission fee and confirm your declaration. You will receive a confirmation email with your entry reference number.

  4. 04

    Jury Evaluation

    Your entry is reviewed through the DDA jury process, beginning with preliminary screening for eligibility, compliance and concept review, followed by final jury evaluation for design, execution and relevance. View the evaluation criteria.

  5. 05

    Awards Ceremony

    Shortlisted and winning entries are announced at the Deities Design Awards Ceremony 2026. Winners receive their trophy, citation and access to a dedicated winners’ gallery platform with year-round visibility.

Begin Your Submission
Guidelines

Submission standards.

All entries must meet the following requirements to be considered for evaluation.
Submissions that do not comply with these guidelines may be disqualified without refund.


  • Image format: JPEG or PNG only. No other formats accepted.
  • Resolution: Minimum 2000 pixels on the long side. Recommended 3000px+. Images must be sharp, well-lit and free of watermarks.
  • File size: Maximum 25 MB per image. Maximum 10 images per submission entry.
  • Image content: Images must show only the submitted piece. No stock backgrounds, props or models that distract from the jewellery are permitted.
  • No AI-generated or enhanced images: AI-generated or AI-enhanced images are strictly not allowed. Submitted images must be genuine, unedited-beyond-basic-correction photographs of the actual physical piece.
  • Multiple views: We recommend including at least 3 views front, detail/close-up and a contextual or scale shot.
  • Design statement: Required for all entries. Between 150 and 500 words describing the sacred inspiration, design intent, materials and techniques used.
  • Eligibility: Entries must represent work created within the past 3 years (2023-2026). Previously submitted entries to DDA are not eligible for resubmission.
  • Authenticity: All submitted work must be the original creation of the entrant. Collaborative work must be clearly disclosed with all contributors named.
  • Sacred intent: All entries must be jewellery created with explicit sacred, devotional or spiritual intent for deities, temples, religious occasions or spiritual practices.
  • Language: All written submissions must be in English. Hindi submissions may include an English translation.
Entry Fees

Investment in recognition.

Entry fees are structured around the Deities Categories. All fees are inclusive of GST.

Deities CategoriesFeeDetails
Entry FeeINR ₹2,500 (incl. GST) / USD $29Participants are eligible to submit up to 2 categories, Category 1 Radharani or Gopinath.

One entry in any of the other Deity categories, in accordance with the competition guidelines.
Special CategoryINR ₹9,000 (incl. GST) / USD $99Create 1 exclusive piece for any one deity

Part of the participation proceeds will be donated to ISKCON Chowpatty.

Fees are non-refundable unless mutually agreed upon.

Phase One
Registration Opens
29th July 2026
Phase Two
Closure of Entry Submission
25th August 2026
Phase Three
Preliminary Jury Evaluation
30th August 2026
Phase Four
Final Jury Round
14th Oct 2026
Phase Five
Awards
Night
18th Oct 2026