Uttarakhand Tourism Board in association with Starscapes Announce Nakshatra Sabha Astro Photography Contest
The winners of the contest get a chance to win free tickets to India’s first astro tourism campaign Nakshatra Sabha
Bengaluru : Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board in collaboration with Starscapes, India’s leading astro tourism company, announce the launch of the Nakshatra Sabha astro photography 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, a collaborative astro tourism campaign by Uttarakhand Tourism Board and Starscapes.
This initiative is a part of the Nakshatra Sabha campaign, which will run throughout the year until mid-2025. The campaign features 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 Nakshatra Sabha, offering an opportunity for winners to engage with astronomy experts and fellow enthusiasts during an unforgettable experience under the stars.
The contest, with a prize pool of ₹5,00,000, offers the highest-ever rewards in the field of astrophotography in India. Each category features exciting prizes: the first prize includes ₹25,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to any Nakshatra Sabha event, covering flights, accommodations, meals, and local travel—valued at ₹75,000. The second prize offers ₹15,000 along with the same all-expenses-paid trip, while the third prize consists of ₹10,000 and the all-expenses-paid trip to Nakshatra Sabha.
Entries open on 20th October 2024, and the submission deadline is 30th November 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. Participants 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.