Brassware - Karaikudi
Tamil Nadu is one of the most famous religious places is well known for artistic brass lamps. Brass is considered to be superior (social relevance/perception) to all other metals, and brass products are one of the famous handmade crafts in Karaikudi.
Lamp is one of the products made from brass which is an alloy of copper. Bride carrying the 'Kuthu Villakku' (sliver or brass oil lamp), to her in-law's house, as a symbol of bringing prosperity is a tradition practiced till date. These lamps come in varying styles Yaanai Villakku (elephant carrying a lamp), Thavalum Pillai (Crawling Krishna) and so on. Products like, diyas, bells etc. are made in brass to be used for poojas/worshipping and also for decorative purposes. Big, medium and small lamps are the types of lamps with varying size from 4inches to two feet. Oil lamp mainly consists of 3 parts -
_ Bottom half,
_ Body and
_ Top half.
Bottom half acts as a base, body acts as a support between base whereas top half holds oil.
