Nilavilakku is a traditional lamp used commonly in Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu (called Kuthuvillakku). These traditional lamps are lit during auspicious rituals and ceremonies.

The Nilavilakku is integral to several rituals and ceremonies in Hindu families in Kerala. As the sun sets, the young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps to the verandah of the house and continued with evening prayers.

Lighting the Nilavilakku on any occasion is believed to be auspicious. Nilavilakku plays an important role in the presentation of various art forms. The art forms are performed after lighting the lamp. In Kerala, functions are inaugurated by lighting them

Nilavilakku is usually made of bronze or brass. Usually, cotton wicks doused in oil or ghee are used for lighting the lamp. There are three ways of lighting the lamp.

In one, only one wick is lit and is directed towards the deity or sacred space and in another, there are two lit wicks in two directions. The third alternative is with five wicks in five directions.

With the reach of Christianity in Kerala, Saint Thomas Christians (or Syrian Christians) also started keeping Nilavilakku in their churches and homes. Traditionally, the nilavilakku is lighted and kept at the main front entrance of a home.

Do you know how Nilavilakku lamp got its name? While dividing the name into two parts we get Nilam which in the Malayalam/Tamil language means floor or the ground, and vilakku which means lamp.