Rich arts and crafts contribute to the rich culture of India from the Saora, an indigenous people of Odisha in India and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Among their various traditional items, the earthen lamp with serrated outer rim, Villa "The Flame of Tradition," holds a special status. The lamp made from local clay not only serves the purpose of function but also an important symbol of light, purity, and spiritual beliefs of the tribe.
The lamp is unique with its serrated rim, a testimony to the dexterity and artistry of the Saora people. The design is austere, yet pleasing; the serrations along the edge augment its beauty as well as help in taming and steadying the flame. These lamps, illuminating the sacred spaces, also act as carriers of spiritual energy during rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations, so as to gain divine presence and dispel darkness.
In Saora cosmology, light exists in a divine realm, and by lighting a lamp, the Saora intend to invoke blessings and protection from the gods. This Flame of Tradition is tightly interwoven into the fabric of tribal religion and culture, particularly during the harvest and ceremonies related to rites of passage. The lighting of this lamp, in their view, summons the presence of their ancestral spirits among them in the natural world and thereby guarantees the richness and well-being of the community. Thus, this continued practice of lighting the earthen lamp helps the Saora to conserve their cultural identity and spirituality, traditions which have sustained them for generations.