Question 1

What are the age categories for the competition ?

Accepted Answer

There are four different categories for each event.
Category 1 – 1st grade to 3rd grade
Category 2 – 4th grade to 6th grade
Category 3 – 7th grade to 9th grade
Category 4 – 10th grade to 12th grade
For administrative purposes, categories are determined based on the grade/class in which the participant is currently studying.

Kindergarten children do not have a separate category. They are allowed to participate in category-1. But they will be graded along with other participants in category-1.

Question 2

What are the different events ?

Accepted Answer

Solo Events

Music
Classical Music
Light Music
Indian Music
Western Music
Instrumental Music (String) (Piano is excluded from the competition)
Instrumental Music (Wind)

Dance
Classical Dance Bharatanatyam
Classical Dance Mohiniyattam 
Folk Dance (Nadodi Nritham or other forms of dances)
Cinematic Dance

Arts
Painting Watercolor
Pencil Sketching
Story Writing English

Performance
Public speaking (English/Malayalam ;  for Age category 2,3,4)
Story Telling  (English/Malayalam  for Age category 1 )
Creative - KANJ Got Talent
Fancy Dress

Group events
Cinematic Dance
Classical Dance

Question 3

Can any of the events be canceled ?

Accepted Answer

There is a possibility that the event may get canceled if  we do not receive a minimum of 4 participants. The registration fees will be reimbursed if an event is canceled.

Question 4

Are there any group events?

Accepted Answer

Yes .

There are two group events as follows.  
Cinematic Dance
Classical Dance

There should be a minimum of three participants and a maximum of 10. The category of the group is determined by the oldest participants' grade category. For eg:- if there are five children in 'Category 1', two children in 'Category 2' and one child in 'Category 3', the category of that group will be considered as 'Category 3'.

Question 5

What time is my event ? When should I arrive ?

Accepted Answer

Participants will be notified by email about the time of the event. Participants should report at least 30 minutes before the beginning of the event at the stage/venue.

Participants who arrive after the conclusion of their event will not be allowed to participate and their registration for that event will be deemed canceled and the registration fees will not be reimbursed. The participant may still participate in other events for which they have registered, provided they show up on time.

Question 6

When is the registration deadline?

Accepted Answer

February 25th 2024

Please be advised that the registration will be closed earlier depending on the number of registrations that we receive and the capacity of the auditorium.

Question 7

How much is the registration fee?

Accepted Answer

Registration fee is $20 for each event per participant.

Question 8

Can a non-Keralite participate ?

Accepted Answer

For solo events, the participant should be of Kerala origin. (At least one of their parents should be from Kerala).

However, this rule does not exist for group events. The requirement is that the majority of the students should be of Kerala origin for group events.

Question 9

What is the ‘KANJ Got Talent’ event ?

Accepted Answer

The participants may perform any skills or talents (eg:- Magic, Acrobatics, Monoact etc.). The skills should not fall into an already listed category. 
After you register for the event, organizers will contact you and you will be invited to perform based on the approval. The organizers will try to include a mixed variety of performances for this event.

There is no prize for this event.

Question 10

Is there an event for Piano or Drums?

Accepted Answer

No

Question 11

What is the KGT Star Performer award?

Accepted Answer

There will be one KGT Star Performer selected for each Age category based on the following criteria.

1.) Total number of points received for a person from all the participating events. (5 points for First prize, 3 points for second prize and 2 points for third prize )
2.) Points from the group events are not considered towards the KGT star credit.
3.) One participant may participate up to a maximum of five solo events.
4.) The points received in a solo event will be counted towards the KGT Star Performer award only if there were at least  four participants for that specific event.
5.) The performance event “KANJ Got Talent” is not counted towards the KGT Star Performer award.

Question 12

What is the difference between storytelling and public speaking ?

Accepted Answer

Children  from grades 1 through 3 can participate in  Storytelling,  while children from grades 4 through 12 will be able to participate only in public speaking.

For public speaking , the topic will be announced the day before the event.
For storytelling, the participant may choose any topic of their choice.

Question 13

When and where is the event?

Accepted Answer

This year event is conducted on two Saturday’s:  
Day 1 - Mar 14th at Cedar Hill Preparatory School, Somerset, NJ
Day 2 - Mar 22nd  at TBD
Participants should register online for the events. No Walk-in registration allowed.

Add this also here if possible:  Parent Portal can be accessed using the link: 
https://www.parents.kanj.org/

Question 14

Why are the events on 2 separate days?

Accepted Answer

This year events are spread across two days to accommodate for more number of participants during the event and to give participants the opportunity to participate in more events across 2 days without much scheduling conflicts.

Question 15

What are the categories for the competition?

Accepted Answer

There are four different categories for each event.
Category 1 – 1st grade to 3rd grade
Category 2 – 4th grade to 6th grade
Category 3 – 7th grade to 9th grade
Category 4 – 10th grade to 12th grade
For administrative purposes, categories are determined based on the grade/class in which the participant is currently in school.
Kindergarten children do not have a separate category. They are allowed to participate only in Story telling and Fancy dress along with Category 1 (Grade 1st-3rd). They will be graded along with the participants in Category 1

Question 16

What are the different events and their time limits?

Accepted Answer

Day 1 Solo Events:
Arts
Painting Watercolor (90 mins)
Pencil Sketching (90 mins)
Story Writing English (60 mins)
Performance
Story Telling (English/Malayalam for Age category 1) (4 mins)
Public speaking (English and Malayalam for Age category 2,3,4) (4 mins)
Music
Instrumental Music - String (5 mins)
Instrumental Music - Keyboard - Keyboard will be provided (5 mins)
Dance
Classical Dance - Mohiniyattam (6 mins)
Folk Dance (Nadodi Nritham or other forms of dances) (5 mins)

Day 2 Solo events:
Music
Classical Music (Shruti box will be provided) (6 mins)
Light Music (Shruti box will be provided) (5 mins)
Indian Music (5 mins)
Western Music (5 mins)
Dance
Classical Dance - Bharatanatyam ( 6 mins)
Cinematic Dance (5 mins)
Performance
Creative - KANJ Got Talent (Non-Competitive) (5 mins)
Fancy Dress (3 mins)

Day 2 Group events
Cinematic Dance (No folk dance is allowed) (5 mins)

Question 17

Can any of the events be canceled?

Accepted Answer

There is a possibility that the event may be deemed non-competitive or canceled if we do not receive a minimum of 3 participants. The registration fees will be reimbursed if an event is canceled by the organizers.

Question 18

Can a registration be withdrawn or cancelled?

Accepted Answer

Participants are not allowed to withdraw from a registered event once the registration is closed earlier or by the registration deadline, whatever occurs first. 
No refunds will be issued if the participant withdraws or in the event of no show.

Question 19

Are there any group events?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is only one group event: Cinematic Dance.
There should be a minimum of three participants and a maximum of 10 in a group. The category of the group is determined by the oldest participants' grade category. For eg:- if there are five children in 'Category 1', two children in 'Category 2' and one child in 'Category 3', the category of that group will be considered as 'Category 3'.
Participants can be part of only ONE group for the group event.

Question 20

What is Parent Portal?

Accepted Answer

Parent portal is a platform to register the kids for different events offered by KANJ. 
Online registration for the events are only through the parent portal. Parents are required to register to the Parent portal using the same email id for the household.
New Parents can create an account in the parent portal. Existing parents can login using last year's login credentials. 
Multiple kids from the same household can be added under one account in the Parent portal.
KGT event day schedule is visible only through the portal.
Karaoke/music tracks for the allowed events can be uploaded only through the portal.

Question 21

How to get access to the Parent Portal?

Accepted Answer

Parent Portal can be accessed usingthe link: KANJ PARENT PORTAL 
New Parents can create an account in the parent portal. Existing parents can login using last year's login credentials or reset password.

Question 22

What time is my event ? When should I arrive ?

Accepted Answer

Participants can view their event day schedule through Parent Portal.
Participants should report at least 30 minutes before the beginning of the event at the respective event stage/venue.
Participants who arrive after the conclusion of their event will not be allowed to participate and their registration for that event will be deemed canceled and the registration fees will not be reimbursed. The participant may still participate in other events for which they have registered, provided they show up on time.

Question 23

Can a non-Keralite participate ?

Accepted Answer

For solo events, the participant must be of Kerala origin. (At least one of their parents should be from Kerala).
However, for group events the requirement is that the majority of the students should be of Kerala origin.

Question 24

When is the registration deadline?

Accepted Answer

February 22nd, 2026
Please be advised that the registration will be closed earlier depending on the number of registrations that we receive and the capacity of the venue.
Participants must register online for the events. No walk-in registration allowed.

Question 25

How much is the registration fee?

Accepted Answer

​For individual events, registration fees are $30 for each event.
For group events, registration fees are $30 for each participant.

Question 26

Will there be food available at the venue?

Accepted Answer

There will be food vendors at the venue. Participants, parents and other guests can purchase the food for a cost. 
All participants will receive food coupons at check-in for one complimentary meal and snack. 
Food coupons must be used in exchange for complimentary food. If lost, no replacement coupons will be provided. 
Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children consume food that does not cause any food allergy for them.

Question 27

What is the ‘KANJ Got Talent’ event ?

Accepted Answer

The participants may perform any skills or talents (eg:- Magic, Acrobatics, Monoact etc.). The skills should not fall into an already listed category.
After you register for the event, organizers will be contacting you and inviting you to perform. The organizers will try to include a mixed variety of performances for this event.
This is a non-competitive event.

Question 28

What is the KGT Star Performer award?

Accepted Answer

There will be one KGT Star Performer is a rolling prize awarded to a participant for each grade category based on the following criteria: 
Total number of points received for a participant from all the participating events. (5 points for first prize, 3 points for second prize and 2 points for third prize).
In the event of a tie in total points, the Star Award winner for the category shall be determined based on the highest number of 1st prizes, followed by 2nd prizes and then 3rd prizes.
If the highest-scoring participant in a category is a prior KGT Star Performer Award recipient, the award shall be granted to that participant and the next highest-scoring participant within the same grade category.
One participant may participate up to a maximum of 7 solo events on Day-1 and 5 solo events on Day-2.
The points received in a solo event will be counted towards the KGT Star Performer award ONLY if there were at least four participants for that specific event.
Points from the group events are NOT considered towards the KGT star credit.

Question 29

What is the difference between storytelling and public speaking ?

Accepted Answer

Children from grades Kindergarten through 3 can participate in Storytelling, while children from grades 4 through 12 will be able to participate only in public speaking. (Kindergarten children do not have a separate category. They can participate in Cat 1 and is graded along with other participants in Category 1)
For storytelling, the participant may choose any topic of their choice.
For public speaking, the topic will be announced the day before the event.
Participants can perform this event in either English or Malayalam.

Question 30

What are the rules for Instrumental Music?

Accepted Answer

String Instrument:
Instrument: Participant has to bring their own string instrument
Prohibited:
 No karaoke, minus-one tracks, pre-programmed beats/rhythms, or digital effects (e.g., delay, reverb).
Keytar is not allowed
Wind Instruments are not allowed
Performance Time: 5 minutes per performance, 2 Minutes for set-up
Adherence: Rule violations may lead to point deductions or disqualification.
KeyBoard:
Instrument: An 88-key digital keyboard with fully weighted keys and a standard 3-pedal setup (damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals) will be provided. Contestants are not allowed to bring their own instruments.
Prohibited:
 No karaoke, minus-one tracks, pre-programmed beats/rhythms, or digital effects (e.g., delay, reverb).
Wind Instruments are not allowed
Performance Time: 5 minutes per performance
Adherence: Rule violations may lead to point deductions or disqualification.

Question 31

Is there an event for Drums?

Accepted Answer

No

Question 32

Are karaoke or music tracks allowed?

Accepted Answer

Karaoke is allowed ONLY for Indian music and Western music. 
Music tracks are allowed for all dance events and fancy dress.
All karaoke and music tracks MUST be uploaded in mp3 format.

Question 33

How to share the karaoke or music tracks for an event?

Accepted Answer

Karaoke and Music tracks must be uploaded through the parent portal.
It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to verify through the Parent Portal if the uploaded content meets the requirements (time limit & format).

Question 34

Is there a time limit for karaoke or music tracks?

Accepted Answer

Yes, adherence to time limits is one of the judgement criteria for all events. 
Karaoke is allowed only for Indian music and Western music. Time limit is 5 mins max. 
Music tracks are allowed for all dance events. 
Karaoke or music tracks are allowed for fancy dress. Time limit is 3 mins max.

Question 35

Is there a deadline for Karaoke/Music track upload?

Accepted Answer

All tracks must be uploaded through Parent portal by

For Day 1 : March 6, 2026
For Day 2 : March 13, 2026

Question 36

How to contact the organizers?

Accepted Answer

All communications can be directed to kanjgottalent@kanj.org
Technical Queries : itgroup@kanj.org

Kerala Association of New Jersey

Call Us: +1 ‪(732)-320-9221

Frequently asked questions

What are the age categories for the competition ?

What are the different events ?

Can any of the events be canceled ?

Are there any group events?

What time is my event ? When should I arrive ?

When is the registration deadline?

How much is the registration fee?

Can a non-Keralite participate ?

What is the ‘KANJ Got Talent’ event ?

Is there an event for Piano or Drums?

What is the KGT Star Performer award?

What is the difference between storytelling and public speaking ?

When and where is the event?

Why are the events on 2 separate days?

What are the categories for the competition?

What are the different events and their time limits?

Can any of the events be canceled?

Can a registration be withdrawn or cancelled?

Are there any group events?

What is Parent Portal?

How to get access to the Parent Portal?

What time is my event ? When should I arrive ?

Can a non-Keralite participate ?

When is the registration deadline?

How much is the registration fee?

Will there be food available at the venue?

What is the ‘KANJ Got Talent’ event ?

What is the KGT Star Performer award?

What is the difference between storytelling and public speaking ?

What are the rules for Instrumental Music?

Is there an event for Drums?

Are karaoke or music tracks allowed?

How to share the karaoke or music tracks for an event?

Is there a time limit for karaoke or music tracks?

Is there a deadline for Karaoke/Music track upload?

How to contact the organizers?

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