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Light on lamps
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The "Antique Lamp Exhibition" and "Deepanjali" to be held at Dakshinachitra on November 9, will showcase an interesting variety.
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OIL LAMPS and fragrant flowers... Timeless offerings marking festive celebrations and devotion to the gods and immortalised in Sanskrit as `deepanjali' and `pushpanjali'! To celebrate Kartigai, festival of lights, Dakshinachitra is displaying an array of `deepams' and `pushpams' in two exhibitions.
While the `Antique Lamps Exhibition' focusses on the fluid lines, harmony and beauty of rare and ancient lamps, `Deepanjali' fuses flower and lamp ingeniously, replicating different lamp forms.
The `Antique Lamps Exhibition' showcases the private lamp collection of art collector and connoisseur Lily Vijayaraghavan. Drawn from the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and representing a passionate search for the rare and beautiful among traditional lamps, each of the ancient lamps symbolises the best of Indian craftsmanship.
Rare `deepastambhas' from Kerala stand beside `vaanchi' boat lamps and `chengalavatta' lamps. A range of `Gajalakshmi' hanging lamps in the style that is unique to Tamil Nadu and Kerala make graceful statements. The banyan tree lamp with 83 spouts, the annapakshi branch lamp with eight deepams, and udumbu lamps are other striking exhibits, which range in antiquity from 50 - 75 years. Lily Vijayaraghavan will also give a talk between 3.30 p.m. and 4.15 p.m. on November 9 at the exhibition venue.
Capturing the spirit and form of traditional South Indian lamps in a unique creative genre is Nirmala Ramaswamy's `Deepanjali'. Using flowers, bamboo sticks, cane baskets, betel nut bark and `thonnais' she creates imaginative replicas!
`Deepanjali' features 15 floral `lamp' creations, which include hanging lamps, `pavai' and `kai villakus' and tall lamps from Kerala, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. Some of the floral lamps, though largely symbolic, can also be lit, by placing an earthen diya in the upper portion of a kuthuvillaku.
Both the exhibitions will be on at Dakshinachitra, East Coast Road on November 9.
PUSHPA CHARI
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