Jindal Foundation Celebrates Raja Festival with 1000+ Women in Odisha

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 18 June 2026

The social development wing, Jindal Foundation, hosted a grand celebration for the Raja Festival at Jan-Jeevika Kendra (JJK), Angul district, Odisha, where over 1,000 women and girls from the rural villages of the surrounding area participated. The goal of the program was to proactively engage with the community for cultural conservation, women empowerment and community-led development.

The celebration conveyed the innermost meaning of the traditional Raja Festival of Odisha, representing womanhood, agricultural fertility and respect for Mother Earth. The program provided a colourful platform for the rural women to express their culture, socialization and recreation, which further strengthened the long standing thrust of the Foundation towards the development programs where women are the key stakeholders in the rural belts of Odisha.

Women and girls dressed up in traditional attire, wearing ornate jewelry and jewelry for the occasion, showcasing the rich culture of the area. The event included decorated Raja swings, traditional food preparations and common community areas to foster interaction and celebration.

Several cultural and skill based competitions were arranged to encourage women in participation and building confidence. This included folk-dance shows, music dances, culinary activities like making the Raja Paan etc. Additionally, the festive delicacy Poda Pitha was prepared and shared among the participants, emphasizing the bonding and unity of the community.

Key Highlight:

• Traditional Raja swings and cultural festive décor engagement.
• Community competitions promoting creativity and participation.
• Collective meals and cultural exchange among rural women.

Swami Satyabindu Saraswati, representatives of Jindal Mahila Samiti, panchayat leaders and senior officials from Jindal Steel, such as community development teams and CSR leadership, attended the event. It was strength of collaborative relationship between leadership and grassroots governance structures that was reinforced by their presence.

During the event, the local Sarpanch, Shila Pradhan, thanked Jindal Foundation for its ongoing initiatives related to the conservation of Odia traditions and development of rural livelihoods. “Such programs help build women's confidence to participate in community life”, she said.

Jayanta Kumar Mohanty, General Manager and Head of CSR (Angul) thanked the villagers and stakeholders for their participation. He highlighted the importance of building sustainable community ecosystems in which women have a central role in the process of social and economic change, through the Foundation's CSR projects.

The event was also an excellent opportunity to promote social inclusion and solidarity among women with different socio-economic statuses. By gathering in a common venue, women from diverse self-help groups, local villages and nearby rural groups were united in a space of celebration, thus strengthening peer learning, help and support, and unity. Many participants pointed out that such events are opportunities to reduce social isolation, gain confidence and develop leadership skills beyond the event, into everyday community decision making and livelihood pursuits.

According to CSR reports, Jindal Foundation’s broader programs in Odisha focus on women empowerment through skill development, self-help group (SHG) strengthening, and livelihood generation initiatives such as micro-enterprises, tailoring, and rural entrepreneurship support.

The celebrations concluded with prize distribution ceremonies and community lunches at both locations, leaving participants with a strengthened sense of cultural pride, unity, and empowerment. The event further reinforced Jindal Foundation’s commitment to inclusive growth by integrating cultural heritage with women-led community development initiatives.