This brass Kerala Vilakku, also known as a Kathakali Vilakku, dates back to the heyday of Kerala's ceremonial theatre Kathakali. The only source of illumination for Kathakali performers before the invention of lighting was an oil lamp positioned at the front of the stage. To fully illuminate the face of the artist posing in front of it, it had to be around a meter tall. Traditionally, the lamp is made of bronze and burns coconut oil. There are currently brass versions of the same item. Cotton fibers that have been tightly wound are used to make the wicks. This practical lighting plays a big role in ceremonies. They still serve as the traditional festive lighting source and give forth a consistent amount of light.
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