A meditative chant hums in the background as Karen Shetty warms a tubful of wax chips. She does this every day. For the past four months, she’s been warming, colouring and pouring wax into various moulds. The fruits of her labour nestle in a dozen cardboard boxes —over 300 candles, including some made of incredibly soft soy wax.
These candles are getting ready to bring light to other homes, and the lives of the underprivileged. Karen is holding a sale of her candles this weekend, and proceeds will go to the Soullight Energy Ashram Trust (SEAT). The trust works with anyone who needs help — tangible and spiritual.
Karen happily shows off her candles. They come in every shape and size and in a multitude of colours. There are pyramids, circles, crescents and more. Some have glitter; others have print; and yet some others are embellished with white kolapodi. She takes pains to explain the techniques that went into their making, especially the multi-colour ones. “You have to keep tilting the mould to get this marble effect. It’s lovely because you never can determine how it will finally look,” she says. Karen also has filled some old soap boxes and jam jars with wax, after giving them a decorative layer of kola podi. They look delightfully old-world.
Karen has been making candles for about two decades, but it is only now that she’s doing it for a purpose. “That somehow makes it all worthwhile. Sometimes, I sit till late in the night, just me, molten wax and freshly-made candles, still warm to the touch. I almost feel like a mother holding a new-born,” she smiles.
She also holds classes in candle making, and says candles have consumed her thoughts for some months now. “I’ve badgered everyone I know, to bring me stuff to make them. So many relatives and friends have helped add to my inventory, by bringing wax, colour, moulds and essential oils from all over the world,” she says.
Candle making is a lovely art form and an ancient one at that. “The purpose has always remained the same — to eliminate darkness. And that’s why making candles gives such joy,” she says.
Karen is baffled when people preserve candles instead of lighting them. “That’s so cruel. Candles are meant to be lit. They are living beings that give light. Light them and enjoy their glow. They look best when they are burning.”
The candles are priced between Rs. 100 (for a set of floating candles) to Rs. 1,500 (for a 1.5 kg candle in earthy hues). About 87 kg of wax went into their making. Karen uses essential oils — mainly vanilla and lavender) for a limited range of scented candles. The sale is on at Divyalok, E-3, Rainbow Manor, Trichy Road, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 20 and 21. For details, call 94431-51037
