Doc Summary
Module: Utsav Contests™ (Core)
Document Type: Policy
Trademark: Utsav Contests™ is a trademark of MyMahotsav Futuretech Ltd
Effective Date: 24th February 2026
Version: 1.0
Part A: Plain English Summary #
How Winners Are Selected #
Fairness and transparency are at the heart of Utsav Contests™. This policy explains how entries are judged, who the judges are, and how winners are chosen.
The Simple Truth #
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Clear Criteria: Every contest publishes its judging criteria so you know what we’re looking for .
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Qualified Judges: Our jury members are experts in their fields—photographers, chefs, cultural scholars .
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No Conflicts: Judges disclose any relationships with entrants and recuse themselves if needed.
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Decisions Are Final: Judges’ decisions are binding and not subject to appeal .
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Transparency: We publish winner selections and may share judges’ comments.
Part B: Legal Terms and Conditions #
1. JUDGING METHODS #
1.1 Each Contest announcement will specify the method of winner selection:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Jury Selection | Panel of qualified judges evaluates entries based on published criteria |
| Public Voting | Registered users vote for entries; votes may be weighted or combined with jury scores |
| Hybrid | Combination of jury scores and public votes (e.g., 50% jury, 50% public) |
| Random Draw | For sweepstakes elements; winners selected at random from eligible entries |
2. JUDGING CRITERIA #
2.1 Contest-specific judging criteria will be published in each Contest announcement. Typical criteria include :
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity & Originality | [XX]% | Unique approach, fresh perspective, innovative interpretation |
| Adherence to Theme | [XX]% | How well the entry addresses the contest theme |
| Technical Quality | [XX]% | Composition, lighting, resolution (photos); clarity, production (videos); grammar, structure (essays) |
| Cultural Authenticity | [XX]% | Accurate representation of cultural elements, traditions, practices |
| Presentation | [XX]% | Overall impact, storytelling, emotional resonance |
2.2 Criteria and weights may vary by contest type (photo, video, recipe, essay).
3. JUDGE SELECTION AND QUALIFICATIONS #
3.1 Jury Composition: Judges are selected based on their expertise relevant to the contest theme. This may include:
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Professional photographers
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Culinary experts and chefs
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Cultural scholars and academics
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Community leaders
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MyMahotsav representatives (non-voting where appropriate)
3.2 Independence: Judges are independent contractors, not employees of MyMahotsav, except where noted.
4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST #
4.1 Disclosure: All judges must disclose any relationships with entrants, including:
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Family relationships
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Business associations
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Close personal friendships
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Professional collaborations
4.2 Recusal: Judges with conflicts of interest must recuse themselves from evaluating any entry where a conflict exists.
4.3 Confidentiality: Judges agree to keep all entry information confidential and not to disclose or use entries for any purpose outside the judging process.
5. JUDGING PROCESS #
5.1 Preliminary Round: All eligible entries are reviewed. Top-scoring entries (typically 10-20) are selected as finalists .
5.2 Final Round: Finalist entries are evaluated in depth. Winners are selected based on final scores.
5.3 Tie-Breaking: In case of ties, the following tie-breakers apply in order :
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Higher score in [primary criterion]
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Higher score in [secondary criterion]
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Judges’ collective discussion and vote
5.4 Documentation: Judges may provide brief comments on winning entries, which may be published.
6. PUBLIC VOTING #
6.1 Eligibility to Vote: Public voting is open to registered Utsav World™ users.
6.2 Voting Limits: Each user may vote [once per day / once per contest] as specified.
6.3 Vote Integrity: Automated, bot, or fraudulent voting is prohibited and may result in disqualification of affected entries .
6.4 Tie-Breaking: In case of ties in public voting, jury scores will determine final rankings.
7. JUDGES’ DECISIONS #
7.1 All judging decisions are final and binding on all entrants .
7.2 No correspondence or appeals will be entertained except as provided in the Disqualification & Appeals Process (CT-9).
8. TRANSPARENCY #
8.1 After the Contest concludes, we may publish:
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List of winners
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Judges’ names and qualifications
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Brief comments on winning entries
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Aggregate voting data (where applicable)
Responses