The story
Kumbakonam has been a temple town and metal-ware market for centuries. Nachiarkoil's Kammalar artisans cast tall brass oil lamps in sand moulds, a craft that now holds a GI tag. Kumbakonam's vessel makers moved from brass and bell metal to stainless steel, and the town became a wholesale centre for kitchen utensils. A stainless-steel cluster common facility centre supports small units.
In numbers
Nachiarkoil Lamps ('Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku') is a registered GI (application 196, certificate 184).
GI Registry — Nachiarkoil Lamps, application 196A Stainless Steel Cluster common facility centre at Kumbakonam is listed as completed under MSE-CDP.
Completed Common Facility Centres under MSE-CDP (as on 22 Mar 2024), Office of DC-MSME · 2024
GI tag
- Nachiarkoil Lamps (Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku)Application no. GI Application No. 196 (Certificate No. 184)GI Registry, Intellectual Property India — application 196
Ways in for a newcomer
- Pressing, polishing and buffing job-work for vessel makers
- Online sale of GI brass lamps and temple ware
- Wholesale trading of utensils to retailers in other states
- Re-tinning and repair services
Problems the cluster faces
- Brass and copper price rises
- Machine-made lamps from other states
- Shift of buyers to cheaper aluminium and non-stick ware
- Ageing artisans
Businesses to start here
Stainless Steel Pressed Utensils (Plates, Glasses, Spoons) →Brass Utensils (Thali Sets) →Pooja Brass Wares (Idols, Lamps, Bells) →Enamelled and Ceramic-Coated Cookware →