Nilavilakku

Nilavilakku

Nilavilakku is a lighted bell metal traditional lamp used commonly in Kerala, South India. Nilam in the Malayalam language means ground and Vilakku means lamp. Nilam and vilakku have exactly the same meaning in the older cognate Tamil language. Nilavilakku is the symbol of Shiva Linga

The Nilavilakku is integral to all the rituals and ceremonies in a Keralite's life. As dusk creeps in, young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps (nilavilakku) to the verandah of the house. In the flickering light of the nilavilakku she is joined by the children and elders of the family, especially the grandparents, in chanting hymns and evening prayers.

Lighting the nilavilakku on any occasion is believed to be auspicious. Nilavilakku play an important role at the presentation of various art forms. The art forms are performed after lighting the nilavilakku.


Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilavilakku"

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vishu — Infobox Holiday holiday name = Vishu type = hindu longtype = caption = A traditional vishu kani setting official name = Vishu nickname = observedby = Malayali Tamil Hindus begins = ends = date = First day of Medam (Malayalam Calendar) and… …   Wikipedia

  • Oil lamp — Neolithic stone lamps in Thousand Lamp Museum in Qiandeng town of Kunshan …   Wikipedia

  • Malayali — മലയാളി Malayali Plural: Malayalikal …   Wikipedia

  • Koothambalam — is a theater hall for staging Koothu and Koodiyattam, the ancient dramatic art forms of Kerala, India. Koothambalams are constructed according to Nātyasāstra of Bharata Muni. It is considered as sacred as the temple sanctum itself. It is… …   Wikipedia

  • Margam Kali — (Malayalam:മാര്‍ഗ്ഗംകളി) is one of the ancient group dance of Kerala practiced by Saint Thomas Christians. It is difficult to trace the exact origin of the dance form and the compilation of the lyrics, but the dance form was practiced by the… …   Wikipedia

  • Malayikuthu — Malayikkuthu (Malayikuthu, Malayikkuth) is a dance ritual performed by the people of Malayi sect in Kerala, South India. Devakanni and Narada are two characters that comprise Malayikkuthu. Davakanni s costume consists of gold and silver ornaments …   Wikipedia

  • Indian New Year's days — Owing to the vast cultural and ethnic diversity of India, New Year s day is celebrated in different times of the year at different places. This article is about the various New Year s days celebrated in India.UgadiUgadi is celebrated as New Year… …   Wikipedia

  • Ezhava — Tiyan redirects here. For the Tiyan area in Guam, see Barrigada, Guam. Ezhava ഈഴവര്‍ …   Wikipedia

  • Kuruppanmar — KuruppanmarThis is a small community, considered to be part of ezhava community, found in central and northern part of kerala associated with temple(Bhadrakali) owned by ezhava community. They are completely different from kurup which is part of… …   Wikipedia

  • Kolkali — Presentación de kolkkali en Thrissur, Kerala, en diciembre de 2010. Kolkali o kolkkali es una danza y arte marcial proveniente del sur de India, en el estado de Kerala. Los intérpretes o bailarines, armados con pares de varillas cortas de metal,… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”