Culture And Heritage / Vedanta Aluminium Celebrates World’s Indigenous Peoples Day in Odisha

Bhawanipatna, Aug 12: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, marked World’s Indigenous Peoples Day with inclusive community-led celebrations in Boringpadar and Palberi villages of Kalahandi district. The event brought together over 350 participants from tribal communities, including elders, women, youth and children, to showcase their heritage and strengthen cultural identity.

The programme highlighted Odisha’s rich tribal traditions through a Tribal Attire Showcase and Traditional Food Competition, where participants displayed indigenous cuisine and cultural practices. Elders narrated stories and shared traditional wisdom, while cultural performances and games encouraged active participation across generations. The celebrations reaffirmed the importance of preserving traditional knowledge systems and passing them on to younger generations.

Speaking on the occasion, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Alumina Business, VAML Lanjigarh, said, “The cultural traditions and knowledge systems of indigenous communities are invaluable repositories of wisdom nurtured across generations. World’s Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate this heritage while encouraging younger generations to learn from and carry forward these traditions.”

Community leaders echoed similar sentiments. Sabita Majhi, former Sarpanch of Batelima gram panchayat, said the programme offered a platform to showcase tribal attire, food and customs, while strengthening community bonds. “It was encouraging to see elders share stories with the younger generation, and women, youth and children participate enthusiastically in cultural activities,” she added.

Vedanta Aluminium has been actively supporting tribal communities in Kalahandi through initiatives in education, sports, sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment and cultural preservation. The company’s engagement on World’s Indigenous Peoples Day reflects its commitment to inclusivity, heritage preservation and community empowerment.