Brass Metal Lamps, Bells and Utensils/ Otim Kaam of Goa

In Goa the Kansara community make the brass lamps used for religious ceremonies and festivals in temples among several other products made for the tourist and the local market. This tradition of brass lamp making is spread across the west coast to Kerala and Karnataka.

The ritual lamps made range from heights of small to unusually tall and are a distinguishing aspect in the Goan temples, including in the famed Mangueshi and Mahalsa temples. Lamps used in worship are elaborate including three tiered ones.

Two technical processes are used to craft the brassware by the Kansara community. The first is by pressing the brass metal sheets and the second is the casting technique. Pressing process is used for smaller products and for added on parts for the larger cast products including handles.

In the casting process the product is first moulded in wax which is hardened with by mixing in resins. This wax-resin mould is used as a master template for creating a negative mould in aluminum into which the molten brass is poured. The cast object is removed from the mould and cleaned. The brass set product is then finished on a lathe, engraved by hand and finally buffed for a good finish. Niranjan, the brass lamps; Samala the large lamps; Kalash the ritual pots; Tapli small vessels, the Kahlbatt mortar and pestle; Peep the small vessel for water; Attar dandis or perfume sprinklers; diyas, candle stands, sevanazhi – a screw press for making vermicelli – and other such brass products are usually created through the casting process. In the case of large lamp the various parts are made separately and then assembled together. The kansara community can be found practicing their craft in Mapusa, Sanquelim and in Bicholim.