Utkala Dibasa 2024: A fusion of tradition and progress celebrated by Vedanta Aluminium
Bhubaneswar, 3rdApril 2024: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, celebrated the 89th Utkala Dibasa by honouring Odisha’s rich cultural heritage and affirming continued support to accelerate the state’s growth. Across its operations in Odisha, the celebration showcased a blend of tradition, art, industrial progress and communal welfare. Utkala Dibasa marks the foundation day of the state of Odisha, which became a separate state in the year 1936.
In Jharsuguda, the world’s largest single-location aluminium plant, the presence of distinguished guests Padma Shri Mitrabhanu Gountia, the legendary poet, lyricist, and epic writer behind the iconic ‘Rangabati’ lyric, and Professor Ashok Kumar Dash, a leading authority on Sambalpuri language, marked the celebrations. The two stalwarts spoke about ‘Odia Asmita’ or Odia pride, highlighting Odisha’s rich culture, history and aspirations. An evening commemoration under the open sky saw the felicitation of these esteemed guests, followed by captivating performances. Guests savoured the flavours of Odisha with traditional cuisine and enjoyed a cultural fancy dress competition, keeping the spirit of Utkala Dibasa alive.
Vedanta’s Lanjigarh unit in Kalahandi district, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina, witnessed a day-long extravaganza celebrating the essence of Odia culture. The highlights included a stirring rendition of the state anthem ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ by renowned singer Jyotirmoyee Nayak, captivating Odissi and Sambalpuri dance performances by professional troupes, and an energetic Ghumura performance by local community members.
Mr. Sunil Gupta, COO – Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “Utkala Dibasa is a momentous occasion for us. We are committed to celebrating the rich heritage of Odisha and its people, and these festivities are a testament to that. As Odisha’s long-term partner in progress, our initiatives are aimed at empowering local communities, nurturing the rich culture of the state, and creating lakhs of job opportunities.Under the able leadership of Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji, Odisha is on a tremendous growth path and it fills us with immense pride that the Vedanta Group’s largest-ever investment finds its home in this state. Today, thousands of industries have come up around our ventures, resulting in erstwhile remote places like Kalahandi coming into the socio-economic mainstream and enjoying multi-dimensional prosperity.”
This year’s Utkala Dibasa celebrations resonate with Vedanta Aluminium’s unwavering commitment to Odisha’s progress. The company’s contributions encompass various domains, including socio-economic development through initiatives in education, healthcare, livelihood generation, skill development, sports, and art and culture, benefiting lakhs of people in Odisha. Vedanta Aluminium champions the preservation of Odia heritage, promotes traditional art forms like Dhokra and Saura, and nurtures sporting excellence through grassroots archery training programs. The organisation recently championed the staging of ‘Kaeunjuri,’ the world’s longest Sambalpuri theatre production lasting an impressive 49 hours. This initiative not only preserved traditional art forms but also delivered contemporary messages to rural communities. Featuring 100 Sambalpuri plays, the event drew 4,000 spectators and earned a place in the IEA Book of World Records, marking a significant cultural milestone in Odia folk theatre history.
Vedanta Aluminium’s developmental endeavours continue to benefit communities across the Odia hinterland, contributing to the state’s recognition on national and international platforms. The company remains dedicated to sustaining the momentum of Odisha’s growth.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.3 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
