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Dazzling display
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Poompuhar's "Festival of Lamps", which is on till November 30, showcases as many as 500 varieties of `deepams' to light up your home for Karthigai.
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"Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya... "
ONE OF the most beloved lines from the Upanishads, encapsulating the human being's eternal search for light and enlightenment. And perhaps nothing is more symbolic of it than the lamps of Karthigai, brilliantly lit on the full moon day of the month of Karthik, to banish darkness, evil and ignorance! Essentially a festival of Tamils, the region's craftspersons have traditionally some of the most graceful of `deepams' to usher in and celebrate the festival, from humble terra cotta `agal diyas' to the most intricately crafted of `kuthuvillakus', hanging lamps, `vasa malais', `thoonga vilakkus', `ratha deepams' and so on... to light up `puja' rooms and homes, doorways, temple `raths', palaces and the humblest of huts.
Although following `shastric' concepts of a harmonious balance between line, curve and spout, in recent years, the `Kuthuvillaku' craftsperson has innovated to bring in new and evolving expressions in the lamp forms, giving the twinkling Karthigai lights, magical new images and changing patterns.
In an exhibition called `Festival of Lamps', Poompuhar presents 500 dazzling varieties of brass lamps from exquisite little `agal lamps' to Lakshmi lamps, `annam' lamps, Ganesh and Navagraha lamps, lamps celebrating `shanku chakra' and Saraswathi, hanging lamps, `vasa malais', branch lamps and so on...
Created by craftspersons at Poompuhar's own unit at Nachiarkoil, the fantastic lamps — many of them especially conceptualised for this year's Karthigai — are a celebration of concept, form and craftsmanship, with a harmonious mingling of innovative touches, which make many of the lamps collector's items.
And what a glittering sight greets the eye as one walks into Poompuhar! Amidst the golden glow of hundreds of graceful brass `kuthuvilakkus' and other lamps rises and an enormous nine-feet tall branch `kuthuvilakku', its curving branches holding `diya' spouts, `hamsa' and bells at graduated levels, weaving a sculpted imagery of vibrant creative expression and harmony. Other pieces specially created for this year's Karthigai festival are `alankara Vishnu deepam', featuring Vishnu framed within an auspicious arch, bearing innumerable `diyas,' unusual `Navagraha lamps' and a uniquely conceptualised Gajalakshmi lamp, which depicts the two auspicious elephants as well as lamp ladies.
Other rare lamp concepts, which have been newly introduced are `adaka lamps' and Navagraha `arati' lamps. The exhibition showcases some novel `arati' lamps, including an exquisitely crafted `step arati' lamp, which is shaped like a falling cascade of 108 `deepams'! The collection of hanging lamps too is exceptional, with rare designs and concepts.
Poompuhar's festival of lamps is on till November 30 at its premises, 180 Anna Salai.
PUSHPA CHARI
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