The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board in collaboration with Starscapes, India's leading astrotourism company, has launched the “Nakshatra Sabha” astrophotography contest. Inviting astronomy enthusiasts to capture the beauty of the cosmos, the winner will have the opportunity to win an exclusive ticket to the “Nakshatra Sabha,” an astrotourism campaign.
The initiative will run throughout the year till mid-2025 and will feature a series of immersive events held at dark sky locations across Uttarakhand, including the stunning locales of Benital, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and the renowned Kartiswamy Temple in Rudraprayag. Each location is thoughtfully selected to highlight the unique characteristics of the region, providing participants with extraordinary celestial views.
As part of the contest, participants are encouraged to submit their best astronomy-related photographs, showcasing their creativity and passion for the night sky. The grand prize includes a ticket to the “Nakshatra Sabha,” offering an opportunity for winners to engage with astronomy experts and fellow enthusiasts during an unforgettable experience under the stars.
The contest has a prize pool of INR 5,00,000, and each category features exciting prizes: the first prize includes INR 25,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to any “Nakshatra Sabha” event, covering flights, accommodations, meals and local travel—valued at INR 75,000. The second prize is INR 15,000 along with the same all-expenses-paid trip, while the third prize consists of INR 10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to “Nakshatra Sabha.”
Entries open on October 20, 2024, and the submission deadline is November 30, 2024. Participants can send in their entries by uploading their submissions through the contest page on the Nakshatra Sabha website, with each participant allowed to submit up to five photos. They can compete in two categories: Smartphone Photography and DSLR Photography. All entries must be original, unaltered and not composite; any fraudulent or edited submissions will lead to disqualification. The judging panel, led by Shikhar Gupta and other astrophotography experts, will select the winners. Additionally, the top 10 photos will be showcased at the prestigious Dark Sky Symposium in Delhi and Kausani.
(With inputs from a press release)