Anantha Padmanabha Swamy diya attracts visitors at Ramsons

Birth of Goddess Sri Lakshmi emerging from the Ksheera Sagara is central attraction of this years display

'It is better to light a lamp than to curse the darkness,' so goes saying. Then what's better way is there to bring cheers and happiness into home by lighting a diya. With Diwali, the festival of lights fast approaching, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana has organised 'Deepa Soundarya', an exhibition cum sale of diyas at Pratima gallery till October 30 between 10.30 am and 7 pm.

Diyas made out of Plaster of Paries, Bronze, Copper, rot iron, Brass, Glass, clay, stones, white metal and earth are exhibited. Lamps made out of clay are beautifully painted in bright colours and lamps sculpted in stone are a peek into the past. Apart this, highly ornate brass and bronze lamps created in cire purdue (lost wax) method are objects of art here.

The Most striking diya is the wall hanging of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy made out of brass and display of about 110 varieties of mughal style lamps of different size and hue steals the hearts of on lookers. Apart this varieties of wall hanging lamps of Lakshmi, Ganesha, wood table lamps, vruksha deepa, Kalankari, too drew attention of visitors.

Along with thousands of lamps, the expo has a wide array of objects of crafted mirrors in ornate wooden frames from Jodhpur and Jaipur, embroidery hand bags from kutch, telephone pouches, wall hangings from Jaipur, mirror work torans from Kutch, glass and wooden bead jewellery from Harayana. The Gallery has exhibited works from Rs 10 to Rs 75,000 and the specialty of this year is apart from lamps, the gallery has exhibited attractive gift items.

Speaking to Express, Raghu Dharmendra said that 'according to tradition it is believed that in Deepavali any new things should be purchased along with lamps, and hence from this year the gallery is exhibiting hand bags, ornaments and various types of gift items.'

Birth of Goddess Lakshmi

The central attraction of this year's display at the Gallery is Birth of Goddess Lakshmi (Samudra Manthana). The whole creature of Samudra Manthana and birth of Lakshmi are been very well explained. The authorities have not brought special dolls for this concept, instead using the existing dolls which were brought for Doll show they have created this concept.

The model depict the whole sequence of Goddess Sri Lakshmi emerging from the Ksheera Sagara along with Kamadhenu, Kalpavruksha, Kaustubha gem, Ucchaishravas, Airavata, moon and many other jewles and nymphs.

They have also created serpent Vasuki surrounding Mandara Mount in which Lord Vishnu in the form of divine turtle is supporting Mandara on his back and Shiva swallowing the last drop of poison (Halahala).