Loveleen Gulati | @dilsepostnews | 12 Apr 2017, 11:19 pm
-1492038896.jpg "Lamp with 1001 wicks lighted in Bhopal")
The Aal Vilakku was established in year 2005 in Manav Sangrahalaya in Bhopal. It has 1001 wicks arranged in 13 circular steps of varying diameter. The lowest step is of 7.4 ft. diameter and topmost of 4.5ft.diameter. About 18kg of oil/ghee is required to light all the wicks at a stretch.
A group of metal craft artisans of Mannar Village (Kerala) created this bell-metal lamp through the traditional lost wax process. The lamp is of 15 feet height, weighs 1830 kg and has individual niches carved to hold 1001 wicks. The niches are arranged on a Baniyan tree pattern. In Malayalam language Banyan tree is known as Aal and the lamp is called Vilakku. Thus, this lamp is named as Aal-Vilakku.
In many of the Indian folk cultures lamps connected with ritual observances and performances particularly those held by the community as a whole, occupy place of pride. Traditionally, lamps symbolize not only the spirit of life and wisdom but also tend to represent aesthetically expressed thoughts and ideologies.
There are only two such lamps available in India now. The other lamp is installed at the Mahadevi temple at Chettikulangara village in Alleppy district of Kerala state.
Loveleen is travel and food blogger, and tweets from @dilsepostnews and her blog is www.ofbeatraveller.blogpsot.com
- Dia Mirza says JapanSurprises
- Shikhar Dhawan un-discovers Australia
- Journey through the frames of India
- Anthony Bourdain: The man who inspired me to move
- Pleasure of leisure
- Want to have best train ride? Visit Thailand!
- Lamp with 1001 wicks lighted in Bhopal
- Bhagoriya marks festivity of holi in tribal parts of Madhya Pradesh
- New York: Parks parks parks - from Hudson to East River
- Celebration on the streets of New York
Lufthansa will mark its 100th anniversary in 2026, commemorating a century since the founding of the original “Luft Hansa” on January 6, 1926. The airline’s first flight followed shortly after, on April 6 of the same year, marking the beginning of what would become one of aviation’s most recognisable brands.
Tata Group-owned Air India on Tuesday announced a new, unilateral codeshare partnership with airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, thus making the Baltic region more conveniently accessible for Air India customers.
Air India Express, India’s first international value carrier, has rolled out its monthly, ‘PayDay Sale’, offering special fares across its domestic and international network.