Kerosene 'landras' attracts Dasara revellers in Mysore

Mysore, Oct 17 (UNI) When entire Royal City of Mysore is lit up using lakhs of electric bulbs drawing huge amount of power as part of Dasara festivities, a unique show of over 100 kerosene lamps in the Lankesh Gallery at Rangayana, a repertory, was attracting large groups of tourists and visitors.

The lamps bring back the memories of the lantern or 'landra', as it was known in local parlance, of the yore once used by all whether rich or poor.

60-year-old Padmanabha has been collecting lamps for over 20 years. This include those more than a century old. Many of them were hurricane lanterns. His lantern show WAS getting tremendous response from people visiting the Rangayana from near and far.

One could find kerosene lamps from Britain, Hungary, the US, Germany, Austria, France and Greece. The lamps used onqueen Victoria's carriage, hanging lamps, brass tank lamps, lanterns used on bullock carts, horse-cart lamps and even bicycle lamps were kept in the exhibition.

Speaking to UNI, Padmanabha, a mechanic by profession, said, ''I never went abroad to collect these lamps but got them from rich people, who discarded them or from scrap shops in and around Mysore''.

Padmanabha was also adept in repairing lanterns, as well as old radios which were discarded. He was concentrating on lamps though it was difficult to preserve the delicate articles, he added.

UNI