The leading lights of Nadavarambu
The Hindu : Do traditional bell-metal lamps adorn your house? They might have come from Nadavarambu, in Thrissur district of Kerala, where making bell-metal ware is more an act of devotion than work.Not many people outside Thrissur district may have heard of Nadavarambu. But the metal lamp you have at home might very well have been made there. Nadavarambu in Irinjalakkuda is a small village which works overtime to produce the “Nilavilakku,” lamps of various sizes made of bell-metal.The lamps are in great demand all over India, especially during the Deepavali season. Apart from their use on religious and other occasions, the big and small lamps lend a grand look to the interiors of a house. They are used in places ranging from hotel lobbies to drawing rooms in homes to give that Kerala touch to the interiors.The processThe making of the lamps involves a cumbersome process. The core shape of a lamp, according to size, is made in clay. Then it is given a wax covering and again a coating of clay. When heated in high temperature, the wax melts away and the shape of the object remains intact between the clay layers.Bell-metal, boiled at a very high temperature, is poured into the mould and within three hours it sets into the desired shape.Metal work is an ancient art of Kerala. The production of temple bells and lamps has been in existence from very early times. Gleaming bell-metal alloy, made from a mixture of brass, tin and copper, constitutes the raw material for making the tower-like lamps. Different types of cooking vessels, such as the magnificent ‘Varpu’ tumblers, are some other bell-metal items. Idol making is another area in which the craftsmen of Nadavarambu are experts.Some years ago, utensils made of bell-metal were extensively used in our homes. But, with urbanisation and other changes, families started preferring steel utensils. The kitchen ware and plates made of bell-metal…More
