The glittering brass passes on as heirlooms from generation to generation. Generations rummage through the past to find that beautiful item tucked away, just to be found and adorn every nook and corner or serve as pot holders.
In the olden days a nomadic tribe was known as Kammari who made brass products would come once or twice a year to a well-populated area, pitch their tents, take orders from in and around that area, and complete the job in a month or two and move on to other areas. One such place was Akunuru near Vijayawada.
Ajjram
What better way to start a journey down this lane, but by the knowledge that heavy ithadi panao (brass tava) were used in the olden days and members of ccap got a glimpse of one such relic on their survey trip. The thought that dibba rotti must have been made on it, is like going down another memory lane.
Ajjram happens to be a village divided between two panchayats, yet the people here have a great sense of camaraderie and belonging. The villages in West Godavari district have many distinctions to its credit, poets and Veda Pandits like Shobanadri Sastri belong here. A famous Telugu movie ‘Devata’, filmed in Pattiseema, had 1000 bindelu lined up for a dance sequence. These bindelu or large brass pots were made in Ajjaram. As the winner of Nirmal Gram Puraskar, surrounded with beautiful greenery, this place has attracted many movie and serial producers.
Brass is a metal that is occasionally mixed with different metals to make idols, temple embellishments, decorative as well as household items.
As one passes through the village lanes of Ajjram, the constant clank, cutting and welding of metal can be overwhelming. The craft has a history of about 200 years and is practised by almost every household. About 2500 people are known to be actively involved with the craft.
Brass rods are flattened into sheets and joined to make various items like bindelu, ganganalu, vessels, temple and puja items etc. After cleaning, the products are polished on a lathe machine.
Ajjram is also the place where quality brass bells of all sizes are made and marketed nationally and internationally. The typical ‘omkaar’ sound of the bell is due to the precise specifications that go into the making process. Any change in the composition can change the quality of the sound. The bells made here could weigh anything between 1 kg to 500 kg. The bells are used in all places of worship.
Ccap members of Vijayawada visited one such unit in 2019.
Budithi
Budithi, a small village about 42 km from Srikakulam, is renowned for beautiful traditional and contemporary metal crafts made out of alloys like brass and bell metal since the last 200 years! Traditional items like Idols, Bindelu, Thamboolam plate, and planter pots in different shapes with geometric and flower designs are made here.
81-year-old artisan Mr. K. Apparao of Budithi needs a special mention. He has developed a black coating, which he applies to the underside of brass pots and pans, which gives it their unique identity. Andhra Pradesh state symbol “Poornaghatam” is made by him. In 1999 this craft was conferred the Geographical Indication.
Black and golden rings on ornamental items as well as a unique polishing method that gives brass metal a yellow hue similar to that of gold are among their finishing techniques. https://blog.afday.com/10-features-of-budithi-bell-brass-craft-that-make-everyone-love-it/ (Shraddha Sharma blog 2021)
Artisans name and number
K. Appa Rao, Budithi 9491813526
Malleswararao, Budithi 8639673314
K. Murali Budithi 9490203387
Krishna Rao 9440277818
Eshwar K 9493735654
K.Prabhakar 9492266092
K. Lokeswara Rao 6363917727
Onipenta
The village was initially called Kamsalivanipenta and in due course it became known as Onipenta and used to have 500 families engaged in the craft. Bringing raw material from Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Vijayawada, artisans in the village make brassware, like cooking utensils, pitchers, buckets, handis, idols of gods, goddesses and decorative items. It has been a long tradition to give brass pitchers and other household articles to the bride at the time of wedding. Most of those used to be supplied from Onipenta. Temple works like Dhwaja Sthambham, brass plating, idols, lamps and others are carried out by Onipenta craftsmen.
Onipenta, a small village in Mydukur mandal, is world-famous for its brassware and located 45 km away from the district headquarters, Cuddapah. Legend has it that the brassware making tradition started in the time of King Janamejeyudu, who ruled the region in the 13th century. Sri Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy was said to be a good brass craftsman.
Kalahasthi and Thiruchanur in Chittoor district are famous for their bronze Panchaloha idol and temple related works.
Artisan names and numbers:
Ismail, Onipenta 9989728926
