Mangalore:
With its collection of popular panchaloha idols, a slice of Tamil Nadu and its culture landed in the city with its annual exhibition that was inaugurated here on Friday.
The cynosure of all eyes at the exhibition is the grand panchaloha (five metal-alloy of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Lead) idol depicting Lord Vishnu sleeping on a Sheesha Naga (a multiple-headed snake) that comes along with a price tag of Rs. 50 lakh.
Sculpted by 15 artisans over the past year, the 1,000-kg imposing idol is modelled after the Ranganatha idol of the Srirangam temple at Tamil Nadu.
“Around two such pieces are made yearly, and is a very rare piece. Recently, we sold one to Mukesh Ambani’s firm, Reliance, and this is the first time the piece is coming to the city,” said S. Manikandan, Manager of the exhibition.
Organised by ‘Poompuhar’, a unit of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation limited, the exhibition has nearly 20 stalls, of which six represent the government artisans specialising in brass works, Tanjore paintings and panchaloha works in Tamil Nadu. The rest exhibit jewellery, natural pearls from Hyderabad, textiles from states as varied as Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra and Delhi, said Mr. Manikandan.
The cheapest works, small lamps and artificial jewellery barely nick the pocket at Rs. 37 each piece, while the more extensive works – such as a five-foot high gold-plated ‘branch’ lamp – can come for up to Rs. 3.5 lakh.
This is the fourth edition of the exhibition, and there is optimism over the sales in the coastal city. “Last year, we had business of around Rs. 15 lakh, and we expect to double it this year,” said Mr. Manikandan.
Though observing that most of the pieces will out of reach for the poor, Mayor Mahabala Marla, who inaugurated the exhibition, said the collection demonstrates the cultural richness of the country.
The exhibition will remain in the city till November 3 at Hotel Woodlands.
-EoM-
