Celebration Across Jajpur & Kalinganagar
On 17 September 2025, industries and workshops across Jajpur and Kalinganagar came alive with the vibrant celebration of Vishwakarma Puja. Factories, steel plants, workshops, and small industrial units paused their operations to honor Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect and craftsman, who is believed to bless tools, technology, and all forms of skilled labour.
From large-scale steel industries in Kalinganagar to local workshops in Jajpur, the puja was marked with decorated pandals, traditional rituals, and enthusiastic participation by workers and their families.
Rituals and Traditions
- Tools, machinery, and vehicles were cleaned, decorated with flowers, and worshipped.
- Idols and images of Lord Vishwakarma were placed in pandals within industrial campuses.
- Workers offered fruits, sweets, incense, and flowers, followed by the chanting of mantras.
- Community feasts were arranged, bringing together management, labourers, contractors, and local residents in a shared spirit of devotion and unity.
Importance for the Industrial Belt
For Jajpur and Kalinganagar, the industrial heartland of Odisha, Vishwakarma Puja is not only a spiritual tradition but also a symbolic occasion:
- Respect for Labour & Tools: Honoring machinery and workers who drive industrial growth.
- Workplace Safety: Many companies used the occasion to inspect equipment, renew safety measures, and encourage safe work practices.
- Community Bonding: The celebrations broke barriers between different groups within the industrial ecosystem, fostering togetherness.
Voices from the Ground
A worker from a steel plant in Kalinganagar shared:
“Vishwakarma Puja is not just a holiday for us; it’s a reminder that our tools are sacred, and our safety matters. It gives us pride in our work.”