Onam is a lot about everything that is typical of Kerala: its flowers, dresses and feast. The festival showcases the true spirit of Kerala’s age-old culture and art.
Like Onam, Aranmula Kannadi, finely crafted metal mirrors from Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district, reflects the beauty of Kerala’s centuries-old culture of arts, crafts and lifestyle. No wonder then it is a rage with souvenir seekers from far and wide.
An exhibition of these exotic mirrors are being organised currently at the ‘Kairali’ showroom of the Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited of Kerala near East Fort.
Auspicious articleAranmula Kannadi was once considered one of the eight auspicious articles that go to make the wedding trousseau. The procedure and metallurgy of making the mirror is a closely held secret of bell-metal artisans who have passed it on from generation to generation.
They use copper, tin, and a special mix of mud from the local paddy fields to give it a fine finish.
Obtaining a mirror-like reflection out of bell metal is a secret known to a handful of surviving bell-metal artisans. The mirror attains its final shape days after rubbing it with a hessian cloth.
Legend has it that centuries ago, the local sovereign brought eight families with expertise in temple crafts and arts to Aranmula Parthasarathy temple to make a crown for the deity.
The artisans got to create the mirror, as they were working on the crown and it was included among the eight auspicious items used to worship the deity.
The exhibition-cum-sale in the capital city will be on up to September 6. It features mirrors with frames moulded in the shape of conch shell, sun, and peacock feather with prices ranging from Rs.2,000 to Rs.8,000 with a 10 per cent discount.
The Handicrafts Development Corporation has also filled the showroom with a wide variety of other products that would interest the souvenir seekers, such as clocks with carved rosewood frames, jewellery boxes, saris and bed spreads.
