THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

TIKIRI, OCTOBER 22, 2026

Utkal Alumina International Ltd (UAIL), a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Ltd under the Aditya Birla Group, celebrated Durga Puja with religious fervour and cultural festivities, bringing together nearly 15,000 devotees and visitors over five days, while the grand finale attracted an estimated 30,000 people.

The celebrations, held at the company's Durga Puja Ground near Doraguda, witnessed enthusiastic participation from employees, business partners and villagers from areas surrounding its refinery and mines, highlighting the company's engagement with local communities and its commitment to preserving cultural traditions.

The festivities began on October 16 with Mahapanchami, marked by the traditional Bilwadivas ritual at the Maa Durga Mandap, followed by a Boogie Woogie dance programme that showcased local talent and drew large crowds.

The celebrations gained momentum on Mahasasthi, when devotees participated in religious observances before enjoying a musical evening featuring Ollywood singers Sangeeta Padhi and Ashutosh Mohanty. Their performances enthralled the audience and added to the festive atmosphere.

Traditional rituals and pujas marked Mahasaptami and Mahashtami, while vibrant Sambalpuri music and dance performances brought the evenings alive, attracting enthusiastic participation from local residents and visitors.

On Mahanavami, special pujas, Homa and Purnahuti rituals were performed with religious solemnity, followed by a grand orchestra performance.

The celebrations culminated on Vijaya Dashami with the ceremonial burning of a towering effigy of Ravana. The grand Ravana Dahan, symbolising the triumph of good over evil, drew an estimated 30,000 spectators and marked a spectacular conclusion to the festivities.

Mazharullah Beig, President and Unit Head of Aditya Alumina Refinery, attended the celebrations and extended festive greetings to the gathering. Anupam Acharya, Tahsildar of Kashipur, and other dignitaries were also present.

The successful organisation of the event was coordinated by Narayan Mitra, Functional Head-HR, along with Kiran Nayak, Col. Devee Sahoo, Pradyumna Tripathy, Belakar Naik, Tanmay Bhoi and other team members. Nilakantha Behera, IIC, Doraguda; Sivji Das, IIC, Andrakanch; Arun Patra, SI, and teams from the Doraguda and Andrakanch police stations also extended support to ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities.

The annual celebration reflects UAIL's efforts to foster cultural harmony and strengthen its relationship with communities in its operational areas. By bringing people together through religious observances and cultural programmes, the event provided a shared platform for local talent, traditional practices and community participation, reinforcing the spirit of unity and social cohesion.