Vedanta Aluminium extends support to Machan festival promoting and preserving Odisha’s cultural legacy 

Bhubaneswar : Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, extended its support to ‘Machan – Belpahar Uchhab’, a drama, literary, and cultural festival held annually in Belpahar in Jharsuguda district, Odisha. The festival brought together 450 artists from across the country, providing them with a platform to showcase traditional dance forms and classical folk music. Drawing over 4000 patrons, Machan showcased various dance forms like Odissi, Sambalpuri and Bihu as well as unique dance forms such as Paiki, a martial folk dance that reminisces Odisha’s tales of valour from ancient times, and Dasakathia, a folk ballad singing performance of mythological tales.

 This is the latest initiative by the company to nurture traditional art forms at the grassroots level, thereby preserving and promoting the rich culture and heritage of Odisha among the present and future generation of India. Last year, Vedanta Aluminium’s Mines division supported the world’s longest Sambalpuri theatre production, spanning 49 hours and promoted ‘Suravi’, a children’s festival, fostering young talent from Sundargarh district in Odisha.  

 Speaking on the initiative, Mr. V. Srikanth, CEO (Mines), Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, our social impact endeavours also extend to the promotion and preservation of local art and culture, exemplified by our support for cultural festivals like Machan. These events, deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry of the region, attract significant audiences annually. Through initiatives like this, we aim to not only celebrate the uniqueness of Odisha’s artistic legacy but also nurture an enduring appreciation for ancient cultural art forms. In doing so, we aim to instill a sense of pride within the community, contributing to the preservation of these invaluable art forms for generations to come.”

 Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Motiram Meher, Community Member, Belpahar, stated, “I thank Vedanta Aluminium for its unwavering commitment to uniting artists and providing a platform to showcase centuries-old art forms. Through this support, Vedanta is actively promoting the rich cultural heritage of Odisha, fostering a vibrant environment that celebrates and preserves the artistic legacy of our region.”

Vedanta Aluminium’s Mines Business is at the forefront of driving community development through strategic interventions in education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, rural infrastructure, and grassroots sports and culture. A notable initiative among these is the establishment of Vedanta Nand Ghars, modernised anganwadis serving as dynamic community hubs for the comprehensive development of children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers by offering quality healthcare and nutritional support. These efforts underline the company’s commitment to positively impact lives within and beyond its operational areas, fostering a sense of community contribution towards the overall growth and advancement of the state. Through close collaboration with local authorities, welfare organisations, and community members, Vedanta Aluminium actively steers a socio-economic transformation in rural Odisha.

 Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. 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 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.