New Delhi: An online competition to promote Mahatma Gandhi's ideals among the school children across Delhi commenced on Thursday at the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jitin Prasada's home.

"The online entry submission for the competition 'Gandhi and Sport Gen 2010' has begun today (Thursday) and will close on Sep 15," said Jahnavi Prasada, founder of Youth 4 Gandhi Foundation (Y4G), a Delhi based NGO which is organizing the contest.

The entries have to be submitted online at youth4gandhi.org.

"Students from Classes 1 to 12 as well as those with special abilities would be creating a message using formats of film, animation, illustration, audio, jingle, and painting to express their ideas on Mahatma Gandhi," said Prasada.

"We are expecting at least 1,000 students from around 40 schools to take part in the competition," Prasada said.

The contest will be judged by journalist Barkha Dutt, parliamentarian Priya Dutt, social entrepreneur Vikram Akula and entertainment leader Ajay Bijli.

The panel will judge the entries and the best one will be awarded in a ceremony on October 1. The winners in each category would be declared on September 26.

"The first prize winner will get cash reward of Rs.30,000 under the education policy. The winners will also be taken on a one-week trip to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Mukteshwar," Prasada said.

Present at the function, Priya Dutt told reporters that "Lagey Raho Munnabhai", a movie starring her brother, got everybody connected with Mahatma, especially the youth.

"Munnabhai was a breakthrough and connected with everybody. This initiative also aims at the youngsters of the city," she said. IANS