Silver Jubilee Year of KIIT Nanhipari: Bhubaneswar Regional Audition Concludes; Grand Finale in December

Bhubaneswar: The regional audition for the 25th edition of KIIT Nanhipari – Little Miss India concluded successfully at the KIIT campus on Sunday, marking a milestone in the silver jubilee year of the much-loved children’s talent competition. The audition saw enthusiastic participation from several young contestants aged between 13 and 15, representing different parts of Odisha.

The Grand Finale of the silver jubilee edition will be held in Bhubaneswar from December 21 to 23. KIIT and KISS Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta graced the occasion, inspiring participants with his encouraging words.

The distinguished panel of judges included Ollywood stars Poonam Mishra and Suryamayee Mahapatra, Label Roshan head Roshan Sahu, photographer Akhil Ranjan, Dr. Tripura Mishra, and Bauri Raul, with Malay Mahapatra and Dr. Shraddhanjali Nayak representing the Core Committee.

This year, the total prize money has been raised to Rs 56 lakh. The winner will receive Rs 10 lakh in cash and a 100% fee waiver up to Rs 18 lakh at KIIT, while the first and second runners-up will get Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively, along with fee waivers up to Rs 9 lakh. Special category titles such as Miss Rapunzel, Miss Photogenic, Miss Selfie, Miss Fashion Girl, Miss Whiz Kid, Miss Cinderella, Miss Urvashi, Miss Catwalk, Miss Monalisa, and Miss Active will each carry a cash prize of Rs 20,000.

Over the years, KIIT Nanhipari has emerged as a prestigious national platform that celebrates the confidence, intelligence, and grace of young girls. Interestingly, several well-known Odia faces began their journeys through this event — including actress Bhoomika Dash, who was the Second Runner-Up in 2015, and Swapna Priyadarsini, who was First Runner-Up and Little Miss Active the same year. Both have since carved their own success stories in cinema and modeling, reflecting the competition’s enduring legacy as a grooming ground for young achievers.

Founded in 2001 in Keonjhar under the vision of Dr. Achyuta Samanta, KIIT Nanhipari continues to inspire young girls across India — not just to compete, but to dream big.