COVID takes away sheen from Kerala Aranmula mirror makers' lives

Kerala's 'Aranmula mirror' sales have been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mirror makers are now struggling for survival.

Pathanamthitta: Aranmula metal mirror, the first to get a Geographical Index tag in Kerala, once exhibited the state's rich and diverse cultural heritage before the world. However, for the makers of the beautiful mirrors, the COVID pandemic has come as a jolt from the blue.

Earlier during the devastating floods in the state, the Aranmula mirror making sector had faced a deep crisis. Now with COVID, the troubles for the makers of the special alloy mirrors does not seem to end.

The special metal mirror makers of Aranmula had experimented with their mirror-making in the last Onam season hoping to make better returns. However, those attempts to polish their lives did not last for long.

According to reports, only seven families are involved in the making of the Aranmula mirror. With each passing day, their lives are moving towards deeper troubles and more misery.

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Selvaraj, one of the metal mirror manufacturers here, said, "Most of the workers who used to work with us do not turn up now. Presently, we make and sell Aranmula mirrors only if booked in advance."

"Many of our completed works were not sold due to COVID. The COVID crisis in the tourism sector badly affected the sale of Aranmula mirrors," he added.

The Aranmula boat race and the Aranmula Valla Sadya, which usually gave a boost to sales, hit a low this year. Many participants did not turn out in the usually heavily-crowded festivals due to the COVID protocols.