12/07/2013
This is one town in Kerala that rose to stardom due to its intimacy with metals. It doesn’t mean that one would be greeted with the incessant clanging sound of metals as soon as one enters Mannar, which has been famous for quite some time as the bell metal town of Kerala. Renowned for its craftsmanship and outstanding feats, the smiths of this town are the most sought after group, when it comes to exquisite creations in brass, bronze and silver. Bet it art pieces or those with utility, metal products from Mannar over the years have crossed the seas and reached different parts of the world.
Mannar is a major business town midway between Mavelikara and Thiruvalla in Alappuzha district of Kerala. It is situated on the banks of the Pamba. Mannar is traditionally very famous for vessels, lamps, bells etc. made out of brass, bronze, silver and other metals. There are hundreds of traditional alas or forges in Mannar. Also, there are many small-scale manufacturing establishments engaged in this business, employing traditional workers, where prospective buyers can visit, observe the making and then purchase the artifacts produced.
Some of the unique feats of the Mannar metal craftsmen include world-class products like the world’s biggest varpu (wide cauldron) now displayed at Delhi Museum, the world’s biggest church lamp at Kuravilangad church, the world’s biggest temple lamp at Chettikulangara Devi temple, the world’s biggest temple bell at Shimla temple, the world’s biggest church bell at Cathedral Church, New Delhi, and the replica of the famous ‘Tree of Life’ and ‘Knowledge Lamp’. Mannar takes the credit in India for being the second destination in India for metal products, second only to the city of Moradabad.
