Effective from the date of publication. Last updated: 2026.
The Deities Design Awards (DDA) is a global platform open to jewellery designers, accessory designers, artists, artisans, craftspeople, design studios, brands, manufacturers, students and creative professionals from allied disciplines. We welcome submissions from both emerging and established professionals worldwide whose work demonstrates excellence in spiritual, devotional and deity-inspired design.
To participate, all entries must adhere to the following standards:
Non-compliant submissions or those failing to meet these criteria may be disqualified at the organizers' discretion.
The Deities Design Awards (DDA) is built upon the spirit of Seva (selfless service) and creative offering. By participating, entrants acknowledge and embrace the unique nature of this initiative:
Dedication of Selected Works: For designs selected by the jury and subsequently realized for the temple, participants agree that such pieces—including sketches, renderings, prototypes and the final manufactured jewellery—are formally dedicated to the respective host spiritual institution. Upon this dedication, these specific pieces become the permanent property of the institution, serving as enduring artifacts of sacred heritage and divine adornment.
Custodianship & Preservation: The host institution shall act as the steward of the dedicated pieces. The institution reserves the right to use, display, maintain and preserve these works in accordance with its customs, religious practices and traditions.
Artist Attribution: While ownership of the dedicated physical pieces rests with the institution to ensure their sanctity, the DDA and the host institution are committed to honoring the designer’s contribution. We will ensure that appropriate credit is given to the artist/designer in official documentation, public exhibits and promotional materials associated with the specific piece.
Non-Selected Entries: For all designs, concepts or entries not selected for manufacturing and dedication, full intellectual property rights, ownership and usage rights remain exclusively with the participant. The DDA makes no claim to the ownership of designs that are not formally dedicated to the institution.
Promotional Usage Rights: To celebrate the artistry of the initiative, participants grant the DDA and its official partners a non-exclusive license to reproduce, display and share submitted designs and images of the final pieces for promotional, educational, editorial, marketing and social media purposes related to the Deities Design Awards.
To facilitate the global promotion of the Deities Design Awards (DDA) and to showcase the talent of our participants, all entrants grant the DDA and its official partners a non-exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free license to reproduce, display, publish and distribute submitted designs, images, renderings and related documentation. This license is strictly limited to promotional, educational, editorial, marketing, public relations and social media purposes associated with the DDA. The DDA will make reasonable efforts to provide appropriate attribution to the creator whenever their work is utilized in these contexts.
All submissions must be original creations designed solely by the entrant. By participating, you confirm that your entry respects the intellectual property, copyright and trademark rights of others. To preserve the unique spirit of the DDA, designs that have been previously published, commercially produced or recognized in other award programs are not eligible for submission.
To ensure a fair review for everyone, please ensure your entry follows the format guidelines, category requirements and deadlines established by the DDA. Incomplete or non-compliant entries may be excluded from the evaluation process.
Entries are assessed by our jury based on creativity, craftsmanship, thematic relevance originality and design excellence. The structure of the jury and evaluation protocols are established by the DDA organizers to ensure the highest standards of integrity. Please note that all final decisions rendered by the jury are binding.
To preserve the prestige of the awards and ensure a fair experience for all, the organizers reserve the right to exclude any entry that does not align with our professional standards, including:
The Deities Design Awards is built on mutual respect and creative excellence. We invite all participants to uphold the highest standards throughout the competition, including:
The Deities Design Awards (DDA) is an inclusive, independent platform welcoming participants from all backgrounds and beliefs. The initiative is not affiliated with or intended to promote any specific religion, denomination or ideology. Our sole mission is to celebrate craftsmanship, cultural heritage and the universal role of jewellery in sacred and devotional traditions. We invite all participants to approach their designs with deep respect for the cultural, spiritual and historical significance of the themes they represent.
While we strive to ensure a seamless competition experience, the DDA and its partners cannot be held responsible for technical interruptions, submission errors, data loss or any unforeseen circumstances beyond our reasonable control that may affect your participation.
These terms are interpreted in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes or claims arising in connection with the Deities Design Awards shall be handled under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Mumbai.
As the Deities Design Awards continue to evolve, we may occasionally update or adjust these terms to better serve our participants and partners. We encourage you to review this page periodically, as continued participation constitutes your agreement to any updated guidelines.
By submitting your entry, you confirm that you have read, understood and fully agree to all competition rules, guidelines and terms established by the Deities Design Awards (DDA).
All entries must comply with the eligibility criteria, submission requirements and competition guidelines established by the Deities Design Awards (DDA). Non-compliant entries may be disqualified at the discretion of the organisers.
By submitting an entry, participants confirm that:
Participants grant DDA and its partners the right to reproduce, publish, display, distribute and use submitted designs, images, videos, renderings and related materials for promotional, educational, editorial, marketing, public relations, social media, digital, archival and event-related purposes, with appropriate credit wherever reasonably possible.
Unless otherwise specified, submitted materials will not be returned. Participants are advised to retain copies of all files and supporting documentation.
Entry fees are non-refundable once paid, except in circumstances determined solely by the organisers or in the event of cancellation of the competition.
All judging decisions are final and binding. DDA reserves the right to modify judging procedures, appoint or replace jury members and amend award categories as required.
DDA reserves the right to postpone, modify, combine, suspend or cancel any category, phase or aspect of the competition if circumstances require.
The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any participant or submission found to:
DDA and its partners shall not be responsible for technical failures, submission errors, data loss, communication delays or any circumstances beyond their reasonable control that may affect participation.
By submitting your entry, you confirm that you have read, understood and fully agree to all competition rules, guidelines and terms established by the Deities Design Awards (DDA).
Questions regarding these terms may be directed to info@deitiesdesignawards.com