FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    • What is Kural Theni?

      Kural Theni is a competition designed to encourage children to learn, understand, and recite Thirukkural. The goal is to introduce the timeless virtues and wisdom of Thirukkural to the next generation and promote Tamil heritage.

    • Who is eligible to participate in the Kural Theni competition?

      Eligibility is divided into three categories based on age:

      • Arumbugal (அரும்புகள்): Up to 8 years old as of June 30th (35 Thirukkurals).
      • Mottugal (மொட்டுகள்): Up to 12 years old as of June 30th (70 Thirukkurals).
      • Malargal (மலர்கள்): Up to 17 years old as of June 30th (100 Thirukkurals).

    • Who can participate in these competitions?

      Anyone residing in the USA or Canada within the specified age limits can participate.

    • Do participants need to be part of a Tamil school?

      No, this is not a school-based contest. Participants do not need to be enrolled in a Tamil school to take part.

    • Is this a team-based contest or an individual contest?

      This is an individual contest.

    • What is the purpose of the competition?

      The competition aims to:

      • Promote the learning and recitation of Thirukkural.
      • Introduce Tamil’s classic literary treasure to children.
      • Encourage children to internalize the ethical and moral lessons of Thirukkural.

    • How many Thirukkurals should participants learn?

      The required number of Thirukkurals depends on the age group for the regionals and Zonals: Additional Kurals will be given for rounds after Zonals.

    • Where can participants find the list of Thirukkurals for the competition?

      Participants should refer to the list of Thirukkurals provided on this Kural Theni website. Only these Thirukkurals are valid for the competition. We have given full 100 Kurals which are broken into 35 Kurals for Arumbugal, 70 Kurals for Mottugal, full 100 Kurals for Malargal. Please find the different links below.

    • How many stages are there in the competition?

      The competition is conducted in multiple stages:

      • Regionals and Zonals: At the state or zonal levels.
      • Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Finals: Participants who excel in zonals qualify for these advanced stages.

        Each stage may consist of multiple rounds.

    • How are winners selected in each stage?

      Winners are chosen based on a set percentage. For example, if the cut-off percentage is set to scoring 80% or 85%, then only those participants who reach that score will move on to the next round.

    • Are the Kural Theni contests conducted online or in person?

      The Regionals, Zonals, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals will be conducted virtually (online). The Finals will be conducted in person as part of the FeTNA National Convention.

    • What types of questions will participants face during the competition?

      Participants will be asked to:

      • Recite Thirukkurals in the order they learned.
      • Answer meaning-related questions based on the Thirukkurals they recited.
      • Identify and recite a Thirukkural based on its starting word, ending word, or the chapter it belongs to.
      • Explain the meaning of a given Thirukkural. Bonus points will be awarded for understanding and explaining the meaning rather than rote memorization.
      • Paper presentation & Story telling based on Thirukkurals

      Each stage has a specific set of format which is given below in subsequent questions. 

    • What is the format for regionals?

      The Regional will be conducted as a recital round where participants will recite the Thirukkurals they have memorized (from the given list of Thirukkurals).

    • How should kids recite the Kurals during the recital rounds?

      The recital rounds are designed exclusively for reciting the Kurals in the order they were learned. This round gives children the opportunity to showcase their sequential recitation skills.

      Guidelines:

      • Kids should recite only the Kurals (the couplets) in order of their choice. They must not include Meanings, Athikarams (Chapters) or Kural Numbers.
      • This ensures the recitation maintains a clear flow and is completed on time.
      • Parents should ensure that kids recite only the Kurals during this round.
      • There is no time limit for the recital rounds.
      • Kids who recite the maximum number of Kurals correctly will advance to the next round.

    • Are participants allowed to recite Thirukkurals in any order?

      Yes, participants can recite the given Thirukkurals in any order of their choice. However, they must provide a printed copy or PDF of the Thirukkurals in the exact order they plan to recite for judges to follow during evaluation.

      Link to the Thirukkural Print facility – https://kuraltheni.com/thirukural-prints/

    • What is the format for Zonals?

      Zonals is structured as a quiz that tests various aspects of the Thirukkural, including the meaning of the Kurals, the core ideas of the Kural, and other aspects as outlined below.

      Zonals Features:

      • Answer meaning-related questions based on the Thirukkurals given for each category. Question bank will be released in advance for the contest.
      • Recite a Thirukkural based on its starting word, ending word, or the chapter it belongs to.
      • Explain the meaning of a given Thirukkural. Bonus points are awarded for demonstrating a true understanding rather than mere memorization.

      Example Questions:

      • அகர என்னும் வார்த்தையில் தொடங்கும் குறள்
      • அறம் என்ற வார்த்தையில் முடியும் குறள்
      • கல்வி அதிகாரத்திலிருந்து ஒரு குறள்
      • நன்றி பற்றிய திருக்குறள்

      தமிழில் மட்டுமே பதில்கள் கூறப்பட வேண்டும்.

  • Should all kids in the competition be expected to say the meanings, including Arumbugal category students?

    Yes, all participating kids, including those in the Arumbugal category, will be quizzed in the second round on the meanings to decide the winners.

  • Will there be additional Kurals after the Zonals?

    Yes. Additional Kurals might be provided for the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. Up to the Zonals, the competition will adhere to the currently published list for each category.

  • Will I get notifications when new Kurals are added?

    Yes, all participants advancing to the next level will be notified about any changes in the competition format or additional Kurals.

  • What is the format for Quarterfinals?

    Quarterfinals are structured as follows: a storytelling session for Arumbugal and a paper presentation for Mottugal and Malargal. Detailed explanations and FAQs are available at the links below.

    Quarterfinals Format
    Quarterfinals FAQ

  • What is the format for Semifinals?

    The Semifinals will focus entirely on the meanings of the Kurals from the already published list. There will be no new set of Kurals introduced for any category in Kural Theni 2025. Students should prepare to explain and interpret the meanings in detail.

  • What is the format for finals?

    The Finals will bring together all the elements of previous rounds—recitation and meaning—in a comprehensive in-person format.

    Finals Format – Finals format for Kural Theni 2025

  • Will new Kurals be introduced for the Finals?

    Yes, new Kurals will be given for finals. These additional Kurals will be selected from within the already published list of Kurals for Arumbugal & Mottugal. Malargal will get new Kurals. The exact number of Kurals required for the Finals will be shared after the Semifinals.

  • Can kids go beyond the given limit for their category? For example, if Arumbugal category kids recite more than the given set of Kurals, will there be an advantage?

    If we are unable to determine the winners in the finals, kids can recite beyond their category limit (up to a maximum of Kurals allocated for this year’s Kural Theni) to help decide the winner.

  • How are participants judged?

         Participants are evaluated on the following criteria:

    • Correctness (சரியாகக் கூறுதல்): Accuracy in recitation.
    • Fluency (சரளமாகக் கூறுதல்): Smooth and confident delivery.
    • Pronunciation (சரியான உச்சரிப்பு): Proper pronunciation of Tamil words.
    • Understanding (பொருளை புரிந்து கூறுதல்): Ability to explain the meaning of the Thirukkural.

  • Can participants use reference material during the competition?

    No, participants are expected to recite from memory. However, the printed or PDF version of the Thirukkurals they plan to recite must be submitted for judges to follow along.

  • Where will the in-person Finals be held?

    The Finals will take place during the FeTNA National Convention. For more details about the event, visit the official FeTNA website: https://fetna.org.

  • Who is responsible for travel and accommodation for the Finals?

    Contestants participating in the Finals are responsible for the cost of their travel, accommodation, and food.

  • How many days should I plan for the finals, and what will it cost?

    FeTNA’s Annual Tamil Convention is a three-day event—typically held around July 4th to coincide with American Independence Day celebrations. You should plan to attend all three days. Your budget will need to include:

    • FeTNA entry ticket

      • Admission to the convention

      • Lunch and dinner on specified days
        (See the FeTNA website for exact inclusions and current pricing.)

    • Hotel accommodations

    • Travel (airfare or ground transportation)

    Because rates vary by host city, lodging choices and point of origin, please visit the FeTNA website for ticket details, then research local hotel rates and transportation options to calculate your total estimated cost.

  • What is FeTNA, and why is it associated with Kural Theni?

    FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) is a prominent organization dedicated to celebrating Tamil culture and heritage. The Kural Theni Finals are held as part of FeTNA’s National Convention, providing a grand platform to celebrate Tamil literature and culture.