Did you know Shilpa Rao, the Khuda jaane girl, had taken part in this contest as a child?

For four decades, Sabuj Kalyan Sangha in Jamshedpur has been organising a event that gives youngsters a platform to showcase talent.

This year too, the Telco-based socio-cultural club is organising its All Jamshedpur Annual Competition from April 1 to 10. Prizes will be distributed on April 14, Poila Boishak or Bengali New Year's Day.

On Sunday, over 520 students performed western and contemporary dances and took part in drawing.

The 10-day cultural event, which has 14 events, can witness over 2,000 participants, mostly school and college students. A participant should be at least four-and-a-half-years-old to participate but there is no upper age limit.

Events include western, classical, semi-classical, Bollywood and contemporary dances, tabla, painting, vocal song, Nazrulgeeti and bhajan.

"We haven't fixed an upper age limit because many love to perform. Therefore, we see such a huge participation," said Subrata Guha, a social secretary of the recreation club.

Members of the recreation club said noted Bollywood singer Shilpa Rao had participated in this contest years ago.

"Like Shilpa, there may be other talents waiting to be discovered. The Sabuj Kalyan Sangha has been organising the contest for 40 years. It's a city tradition that the event starts on April 1," said Biplab Banerjee, another social secretary.

"There is no selection round. One can perform before an audience," said Shweta Kumari, an intermediate student of ABM College, who took part in western solo dance.

A registration fee of Rs 50 is being charged from each contestant.