I do not know much about paintings, but this painting remains to be one of my favorites. Its called "Lady with the Lamp" and painted by gifted, Raja Ravi Varma. This persona was introduced to me by my bhai, Suraj, when we had a family trip to Kerala. And he had bought a paiting of this sort painted on a mat. (I still fight with him to get it back here so we can put it up at our home... :) .) Then i found out about all the paitings of Ravi Varma. And simply fell in love with them.


This painting depicts the "Nilavilakku" that the lady holds. The Nilavilakku is integral to all the rituals and ceremonies in a Malayalee's (Keralite) life. As dusk creeps in, young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps (nilavilakku) to the verandah of the house. In the flickering light of the nilavilakku she is joined by the children and elders of the family, especially the grandparents, in chanting hymns and evening prayers.