The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
JHARSUGUDA, MAR 4, 2024
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. The festival brought together 450 artistes from across the country, providing them with a platform to showcase traditional dance forms and classical folk music. Drawing over 4,000 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 generations 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, V. Srikanth, CEO (Mines), Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, our social impact endeavors 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 instil a sense of pride within the community, contributing to the preservation of these invaluable art forms for generations to come.”
Expressing his gratitude, 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.
