Essay & Letter Writing Contest 2026
FREE EVENT
Marathi Shala & Community is excited to announce one of our most cherished annual academic events—the Essay & Letter Writing Contest! This contest is open to all and welcomes participation without any language barriers.
This competition is designed to inspire students, parents, and adults in our community to express their thoughts creatively, strengthen their writing skills, and stay connected to our linguistic roots.
This year, we are thrilled to bring the event to a Mountain House Delta College classroom, offering seating for up to 90 participants. Whether you’re a young storyteller or an adult rediscovering the beauty of Marathi expression, this contest is a perfect platform to shine!
This contest is proudly led by our dedicated high school volunteers — Satyajeet Patil, Saanvi Garg, and Kanishka Patkar. At Marathi Shala, we strongly believe in empowering our next generation by creating meaningful opportunities for leadership, responsibility, and community service. Through initiatives like this, we continue to nurture confident young leaders who give back while growing personally and academically.
EVENT DETAILS
Venue: Mountain House, Delta College South Campus 203 Classroom
Tentative Dates: February 28th at 3 PM to 4 PM PST
Duration: 1 hour
Writing Workshop (optional): February 21st 3 to 4 PM PST
Result announcement: March 7th
Our writing workshop—conducted by experienced mentors—will help participants learn structure, flow, clarity, and presentation techniques before they begin writing.
Contest Rules & Participation Guidelines
For Kids (All Grades)
- Language - English / Marathi
- Minimum length: 1 page
- Can select topics from the official list (below) or choose any appropriate topic
- Creativity, clarity, and effort will be appreciated!
For Adults
- Language - Must write only in Marathi to promote native language proficiency (Any other native language are allowed)
- Minimum length: 2 page
- Topics may be selected from the provided list or based on an original, relevant idea
Combined Category: Kids + Parents (Kid can say and parents write)
- Maximum 2 people per team
- Must write jointly on a shared topic
- A wonderful opportunity to bond through writing!
Award Categories
Awards will be given in the following categories:
4 Winners – Kids (Individual)
- 8 - 9 Years
- 10 - 12
- 13 - 15
- 15 - 17
3 Winners – Adults (Individual)
2 Winner – Kids + Parent Combined Team (up 8 year)
Top entries will be proudly published in the upcoming Shala Annual Magazine [Diwali Ank 2026]
Your writing could be read and cherished by our entire community.
Suggested Writing Topics
Kids and Adults Topics
- Autobiography (fictional) – Write from the perspective of any non-living object (book, tree, toy, instrument).
- Social Media Overuse – Good & Bad
- Generative AI for (Homework) – Pros & Cons
- My Inspiration / Idol (e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji Maharaj, George Washinton)
- A Day in My Life (e.g. President, As Teacher, Scientist)
- Life in America vs. Life in India (e.g. California vs Maharashtra)
- Yough Role for Community (e.g. The Proactive Leader, The Cultural Ambassador)
- Letter Writing to Grandmother, Grandfather, Uncle, Teacher or a Friend
Why This Contest Matters
At Marathi Shala, we believe that:
- Writing strengthens critical thinking
- Letter writing deepens emotional expression
- Storytelling fuels imagination
- Preserving Marathi literacy keeps our cultural identity alive
- Parents and children participating together creates lasting memories
This event is more than a competition—it is a celebration of language, family, culture, and creativity.
Join Us & Let Your Words Shine!
We invite all students, parents, and community members to participate in this enriching experience.
Stay tuned for registration details and workshop announcements.
Let’s write, express, and celebrate our Marathi heritage—together!