ARANMULA MIRRORS FOR SALE
A 21-day exhibition and sale of Aranmula
mirrors began at the Kairali showroom of the Handicrafts Development
Corporation of Kerala Limited at Chinnakada here on Wednesday12th July,2012.
The show was inaugurated by Mayor Prasanna Earnest.Showroom manager S.
Chandrakumar said that Aranmula mirrors with prices from Rs.1,200 to Rs.37,500
were for sale at the exhibition. The mirrors come in the shape of conchs, sun,
peacocks, and swans.These mirrors, which are not made of glass, do not crack if
they fall. They are metal mirrors, created from an alloy of copper and tin,
with an interesting history. They are also considered one among the eight
auspicious items or “ashtamangalyam” that make up a Kerala bride’s trousseau.
The manufacture of this mirror is still a closely guarded secret shared by only
a few artisans.
They are produced in Aranmula and even the
British Museum in London has a 45-cm tall Aranmula mirror in its collection.
The origin of this mirror is linked to the Aranmula Parthasarahty Temple.There
are Aranmula mirrors which cost $1,00,000. Many believe that owning an Aranmula
mirror will bring luck. Mr. Chandrakumar said that the show had already started
drawing crowds. Sale of these mirrors at the exhibition held at the same
showroom last year touched Rs.6 lakh, he said. The show ends on July 31.
Prof.
John Kurakar
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