The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya under the celebrations of its 42nd foundation day is organising various programmes and activities at its premises from March 21 to 23.
Sangrahalya in continuation of four decade long tradition will celebrate foundation Day with various programmes with a state as theme.
This year, Sikkim is the theme state. The chief guest of inaugural ceremony will be KT Gyaltsen, legal Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sikkim and former Speaker, Sikkim legislative Assembly. On this occasion a Dedication of special exhibition entitled: Sikkim and the Sikkimese: The Sentinels of the Godly Mountains and Cultural Heritage of Sikkim’ will be inaugurated at Veethi Sankul. On the eve of Foundation Day, country’s largest lamp with 1001 wicks ‘Aal-Vilakku’ will be lighted. later traditional artists from Sikkim will give performing arts presentation at Veethi Sankul open air auditorium from 7 pm.
A group of metal craft artisans of Mannar Village (Kerala) created this bell-metal lamp through the traditional lost wax process. The lamp is of 15 feet height, weighing 1830 kg and has individual niches carved to hold 1001 wicks.The niches are arranged on a Baniyan tree pattern.ln Malayalam language Baniyan tree is known as Aal and the lamp is called Vilakku. Thus, this lamp is named as Aal - Vilakku. The 1001 wicks are arranged in 13 circular steps of varying diameter. The lowest step is of 7.4 ft. diameter and topmost of 4.5 ft. diameter. About 18 kg. of oil I ghee is required to light all the wicks at a stretch.