Ceremonial closing of the Northern-Western Russian Regions Open Children Contest «India by My Eyes» took place in the Youth Palace, Basil Island, St.Petersburg on November, 22nd , 2013.

The Contest started in St.Petersburg and other cities of the Northern-Western Regions of Russia in September, 2012. The Contest had two nominations: a drawing and an essay; children of two age groups  - 11-13 and 14-17 years of age – took part in it.

The Contest was held in St.Petersburg and in the Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov, Vologda, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk Regions, in the Karelia and  Komi Republics.

The Contest participants were children from comprehensive general schools, artistic schools and schools of art from the Northern-Western Region of Russia.

The Contest principal aim was to attract the children’s attention to studying of history, culture and nature of India and to develop and strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between children of India and Russia.

The Contest organizers were the Consulate General of India in St.Petersburg and St.Petersburg Branch of the International Non-Governmental Organization “The International Center of the Roerichs”.

The Contest Sponsors were commercial companies: ANS Corporation, You-Mix, Trade House Britania, Indexpo, Stony Island, Akeso Pharmaceuticals, Jai Hind and Tandoori Nights restaurants.

The ceremony of rewarding was opened by the Consul-General of the General Consulate of India in St. Petersburg Mr.Vishvas Sapkal. Mr.Vishvas Sapkal heartedly greeted the public and thanked the governments and administration of the republics, cities and districts of the Northern-Western Region of Russia, who helped the Contest. Mr.Vishvas Sapkal  also thanked the Contest participants, the sponsors and all people who took part in organizing the Contest and publishing the Album.

Mr.Vishvas Sapkal also thanked the Chairman of the Regional Non-Governmental Organization “St. Petersburg Branch of the International Non-Governmental Organization “The International Center of the Roerichs”” E.A.Tomsha for the Contest organization.

Later the Contest organizers and participants were awarded with souvenirs, certificates and beautiful albums with the winners’ works and the India cultural sites information.

The main prize winners (the Essay) of the Northern-Western Region of Russia, who were awarded with the trip to India, are:
Seliverstova Maria (the Komi Republic), Balakhomenkiva Anastasiya (the Komi Repuiblic), Popov Vlad (the Komi Republic), Dudchenko Polina (St.Petersburg), Dobryakova Aleksandra (the Komi Republic).
 The main prize winners (the Drawing) are:
Malysheva Veronika (Vologodskaya Oblast), Barkhatova Anastasiya (Arkhangelskaya Oblast), Grishina Kseniya (Leningradskaya Oblast), Aliyeva Irina (the Komi Republic), Brezhneva Nadezhda (Novgorodskaya Oblast), Poryadina Darya (Arkhangelskaya Oblast).

Indian music and bright dances of the «Mayuri»(Petrozavodsk), «Anugama» and  «Orient» (St.Petersburg) dancing groups made the festive atmosphere of the party.