Ever heard of dragons on a Deepavali lamp? Or maybe, snakes? Well, Isha Foundation’s Festival of Lamps has an array of handcrafted and hand-painted lamps with dragons, snakes and more.
Made by the members of Isha Foundation’s social outreach programme, Hands of Grace, the lamps come in different materials – copper, brass, papier mache, bamboo. “This is our first Deepavali exhibition and the third Hands of Grace exhibition in Chennai,” said Usha Rao, co-ordinator at Isha Crafts. “We just finished a Navaratri exhibition in Coimbatore,” she added.
From a one-metre tall buddha lamp with a traditional wick to candles placed on delicately crafted brass peepul leaves that one can set up on a table – the possibilities are endless. You might see something that would fit just right for that extra nail in your living room. Or the slender lamps attached to some finely-made brass lotus leaves might be more to your liking? There’s something for every corner of your house.
The hanging lamps, from Nepal, are the lamps that catch your attention immediately. With Ganesha and dragon motifs, the brass lamps seem perfect for a Deepavali evening. There are also pillar lamps, with a three levels of lamps on the brass pillar. If that seems like a little too much, there are individual copper lamps too that you can use to decorate your doorstep. “The hanging alone are from Nepal. The rest were made by Isha Crafts,” said Usha.
Apart from the lamps, Shambhavi Boutique, the place where the exhibition is being held, is also home to an array of handwoven saris, skirts and stoles.
The exhibition is on till October 28 at Shambhavi Boutique, Isha Foundation, Luz Church Road, Mylapore.