How the Bell Metal Craft Benefits Local Cultures

The bell metal community outside the Kunhimangalam Temple.

A suspended lamp at the temple nearby, made by the craftsmen of the bell metal community.

A uniquely designed bell metal door handle, which is a part of the temple premise.

Vattalam (a big vessel), used for cooking.

Bell metal doorways for the interiors and a variety of objects created for storage or rituals inside the temple.

M.P. Gopinath, a Theyyam artist, at his house. Theyyam is an 800-year-old dance form of Kerala originally performed in the open precincts of the temples.

People who are conscious of having traditional elements in their homes, use bell metal artefacts to embellish the doorways or other aspects of the interiors.

Various metal lamps are part of this prayer room, inside the house of the Theyyam artist.

Theyyam performers have costumes that are extremely elaborate, which often need many metal accessories.

This created an organic link between the metal artisans and the performers.

There are 24 kinds of weapons to be held by Theyyam performers, according to the story and the character.

The most noticeable elements in a Theyyam performance are the ornamental decorations, many of which are made by the bell metal artisans of Payyanur.

There are nine types of masks, involving parts that are metallic. The pieces worn by performers also include metal eyes and long nails.

Each of the 400 different types of Theyyam performance have different kinds of ornamentation and accessories.

Metallic eyes and nails worn by a Theyyam dancer.

There are nine types of masks which involve parts that are metallic.

A print of an old painting, depicting a Theyyam performance, hangs on the temple wall.

The painting shows Theyyam dancers.

A Theyyam performer wears a massive headdress made the same morning, out of fresh palm leaves. The adornment surrounding the face is full of metallic highlights.

Detail of the mask worn by the Theyyam dancer in Singapore.

Worshipers in the temple area at Sri Subrahmanya Swami Temple of Payyanur.

Bell metal is a material that lasts many lifetimes, thus acquiring a sanctity not accorded to ephemeral crafts. Devotion and demand, keeps it alive.

Bell metal lamps hung around the temple.

A vast number of styles and sizes of oil lamps are made by the traditional artisans.

Manichitratarum, a bell metal lock fixed at the temple door.

The temple priest oiling the bell metal lamps.

As evening approaches, the outer walls, lined by small metal oil lamps, are lit.

The Theyyam performance takes place after dark as the drama of fire is part of its repertoire.

The fire lights up the metal portions on the dancer, as the flame from the oil lamps make the entire temple gleam.

The priest passes on the tradition of lighting the bell metal lamp outside the temple to a child.

A priest during the evening ceremony outside the temple.

Lighting lamps is a deeply devotional exercise for temple attendants, priests and visitors alike, adding significance to the bell metal lamps themselves.

One of the many styles of bell metal lamps made for temple use.

Cultural activities in the area are based on the temple calendar or the seasons. Here, the Onam festival that comes after the harvest, is full of exciting boat races, or perhaps a Theyyam performance at the temple in the evening.

Everyone celebrates Onam by watching the boat race.

Metal utensils are used to serve food in the community.

Theyyam installation in a public space.

Govindam, a master bell metal craftsman, with his wife Latha and son Vinod.

Read more about Bell Metal Casting here:

- Shaping the Form
- Finishing Process