PAW2026 Nationwide Competition

PAW2026 is a nationwide Poetry, Artwork, and Writing competition organized annually by Animals Water Bowl Project (AWBP) Trust, in memory of Raju. The competition aims to inspire people of all ages to reconnect with animals and nature while creating greater awareness about animal welfare and rights, human well-being, environmental responsibility, and compassionate coexistence.

Through PAW2026, we hope to inspire individuals and communities to look beyond competition—to learn, reflect, express, and take meaningful steps towards a more compassionate world where humans, animals, and nature can coexist.

Visit our official website for complete details: Click Here

Refer below for the topics and other details

Languages Accepted:

You can participate in any one of the three languages: Telugu, Hindi, or English.

Topics:

Poetry, Artwork, & Essay Writing submitted to the competition should be related to one of the topics shown below.

• Challenges Faced by Community Animals in Urban/ Rural Areas and the Need to Address Them Through Active Engagement of Citizens, NGOs and Government Municipal Corporations Using Social Responsibility, Legal Measures and Legal Reforms.
• Animal cruelty and exploitation of goats, and donkeys for human related causes and animal-free alternatives to protect them.
• How Animals Suffer From Human Wars And Compassionate Actions Citizens and Governments Can Take To Protect and Care for Them During Such Times.
• How Compassion Towards Animals Through Small Everyday Actions Can Reduce Stress, Loneliness, Anxiety, and Violence in Society Based on Your Own Experiences or Observations.
• How Vegan Lifestyle Can Promote Global Peace, Resource Conservation, and Compassionate Coexistence and What Contribution We As Individuals Can Make Towards Achieving It.

General rules:

• No participation fees.
• Eligibility is limited to ages 8 years and above at the time of submission.
• Participants need to be from India.
• Entries must not have been published, self-published, posted on a website or made public on social media, broadcast or featured among the winners in another competition.
• A participant can participate in all the categories but only one entry is allowed per category (Poetry, Artwork, & Essay Writing ).
• You agree to give exclusive rights on your submission work to AWBP Trust, which means you should not use it anywhere else (you will be credited as the author of the work wherever we publish it, but the work remains as AWBP Trust property).
• All the essays/ artwork/poetry submissions will become the property of AWBP Trust. Each participant automatically grants AWBP Trust the right to reproduce, publish, transmit or otherwise communicate to the public their entry, in whole or in part, or using any media for any purpose without permission or payment.
• AWBP Trust reserves the final right, where necessary, to make amendments to the below rules and to select the winners of the competition.

Category Rules:

Eligible Poetry:

• We strictly enforce a plagiarism check, and any content exceeding 10% similarity will result in disqualification. Please ensure that all content you submit is original.
• Poems must be the participant's original work.
• The participant's name should not appear in the essay or in the byline.
• All poems must have a title and must contain a minimum of 20 lines but not exceed 50 lines in length (excluding title).
• Each line should have at least 6 words and no more than 10 words.
• Submit the document in (or write on a paper and scan) word or PDF format.
• Submissions must be in Telugu, Hindi, or  English. Only one language is allowed.
• Ensure file name format is as follows while submitting your work: awbptrust_paw2026_poetry_.

Eligible Artwork:

• Only hand-drawn artwork is accepted.
• Artwork should not contain any words like the artist name, quotes etc.,
• Artwork should be made on A5, A4 size paper or above.
• Submit the scanned copy of the artwork in .JPEG/ PNG/ PDF format
• The artwork must be the original work of the participant.
• Reference images may be used, but all components must be completely original.
• Submissions based on pencil sketching or any type of paints are allowed
• Artwork detailing is essential.
• Limit one entry per contestant.
• Ensure file name format is as follows while submitting your work: awbptrust_paw2026_artwork_.

Eligible Writing:

• We strictly enforce a plagiarism check, and any content exceeding 10% similarity will result in disqualification. Please ensure that all content you submit is original.
• The participant's name should not appear in the essay or in the byline.
• The essay should be a minimum of 800 words but not exceeding 2,500 words and must be typed for submission purposes.
• The essay format must contain – Title > Essay > Conclusion
• Submit the document in (or write on a paper and scan)  word or PDF format.
• The essay should be original and must not have been submitted to any other essay competition(s) or otherwise published.
• Participants will not be allowed to make any revisions to the essay, once it has been submitted.
• The participant will be required to declare any assistance received during the writing of the essay. Sources/ references used in writing the essay should be duly acknowledged in the essay.
• Submissions must be in Telugu, Hindi, or  English. Only one language is allowed.
• Ensure file name format is as follows while submitting your work: awbptrust_paw2026_essay_.

Queries:

For any queries related to the event, please WhatsApp/ call us on +91 7993912345.

Submission Last Date:

Submit your entries by 25th Sep'26 before 11 PM IST.

Where to submit?

Participants must submit different forms for each category they participate in. Ensure file name format is as follows while submitting your work : awbptrust_paw2026__.

• Poetry – (Click here to submit)  Submit the document in word or PDF format.
• Artwork – (Click here to submit) Submit the scanned copy of the artwork in .JPEG/ PNG/ PDF format.
• Essay Writing – (Click here to submit) Submit the document in word or PDF format.

How will awards be determined?

Note: Age is just a number when it comes to creative work. Keep up your spirit and participate. Our panelists will look at the work delivered based on the parameters mentioned below, but not on an age basis.

• Entries that do not follow the rules as mentioned in each category will be disqualified.
• The panel will focus on creativity, concept picked, the message conveyed and detailing in the Artwork/ Essay Writing/ Poetry during the selection process
• The decision of the panel is final.

Prizes & Winners:

Prizes will be awarded for the first, second and third places under each category.

• First Prize: 8000 INR Worth Voucher
• Second Prize: 5000 INR Worth Voucher
• Third Prize: 2000 INR Worth Voucher
• The winners will be announced on 7th Oct'26 on our official website and socials.
• Prizes will be emailed on or before 15th Oct'26.
• Prizes can't be exchanged or transferred.
• Prizes can't be delivered outside India.
• The gift will be in the form of a voucher.

All the participants will get a participation certificate for each qualified entry on or before 30th Oct'26.

Event Sponsors/ Philanthropists: Akarsha Alapati | Dhammaa Tales | Raghu Rao Yalamanchili |  Praveen Gurrala|  GRD Institution | Stray Animal Foundation Of India |  Amulya Gullapalli | YV Care | FURRMATE | FROSTIE | Humane World For Animals

Compassion Partners: Ahimsa Land Foundation | Help In Suffering | Peedu's People | Maitri Bhavna | Sanghamitra Animal Foundation | Khathatitam | Suharth Foundation