Dalmia Cement honours Odisha’s boat-making artisans at historic Bali Jatra 2025

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

CUTTACK, NOVEMBER 6, 2025

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL), one of India’s leading cement majors, has joined the celebrations at the historic Bali Jatra 2025 in Cuttack, paying a heartfelt tribute to Odisha’s traditional boat-making craftsmen — the keepers of the state’s glorious maritime legacy. Aligning with its brand ethos of celebrating expertise and craftsmanship, the company launched a unique initiative to recognize these artisans whose skills once carried Odisha’s trade and culture across seas.

As part of this initiative, two distinguished craftsmen — Sukanta Nayak and Shri Basant Nayak — were honoured with the DSP Expert Boita Shilpkar Samman for their exceptional artistry and contribution to the age-old boat-making craft. The recognition highlights Dalmia Cement’s commitment to preserving India’s intangible heritage while celebrating craftsmanship that embodies precision, skill, and pride — qualities deeply associated with the brand’s identity.

The traditional boat, or boita, holds deep cultural significance for Odisha, symbolizing the spirit of enterprise and adventure that once linked Kalinga’s shores to ancient maritime trade routes across Bali, Sumatra, and Java. Through this felicitation, Dalmia Cement not only celebrates this heritage but also seeks to revive awareness around a craft that is gradually fading in the modern industrial age.

Speaking on the occasion, Navin Tewari, Chief Marketing Officer, Dalmia Cement, said, “At Dalmia Cement, we believe that true expertise is timeless. By honouring Odisha’s traditional boat-making craftsmen, we celebrate not only their artistry but also their enduring spirit of skill, precision, and pride that defines great craftsmanship — values that resonate deeply with our own. By recognizing their contribution, we reaffirm our commitment to preserving traditions that continue to inspire the nation’s journey of progress.”

Tewari also inaugurated Dalmia Cement’s brand pavilion at the fair in the presence of company officials, employees, channel partners, masons, contractors, and their families. The pavilion, designed as an interactive and engaging space, serves as a bridge between the brand and the community — reflecting Dalmia Cement’s dedication to progress rooted in tradition.

Adding a heartwarming touch to the inauguration, over 30 special children from an orphanage supported by Dalmia Cement’s Kapilas Cement Works (KCW) plant performed at the event, symbolizing the company’s enduring values of compassion, inclusion, and shared growth.

The pavilion also showcases Dalmia Cement’s 75-year partnership with Odisha’s development journey. The company’s association with the state began in 1950 when it established its first unit at Rajgangpur to support the construction of the iconic Hirakud Dam — one of India’s earliest post-independence infrastructure marvels. Today, with cutting-edge facilities at Rajgangpur and Kapilas, Dalmia Cement continues to contribute to Odisha’s progress, from major public infrastructure to individual homes.

Visitors to the pavilion can explore Dalmia Cement’s contribution to landmark projects such as the Hirakud Dam, Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, and the ‘Shuttle’ Badminton Stadium, alongside exhibits on Dalmia DSP Cement, the “Concrete Expert” known for its superior strength, durability, and reliability.

By blending heritage with innovation, Dalmia Cement’s participation in Bali Jatra 2025 reinforces its message of “building enduring strength — from tradition to tomorrow.” Through its continued engagement with Odisha’s communities, the company stands as a proud partner in the state’s growth story — honouring its past, empowering its people, and cementing the foundations of a stronger future.