This is a Permanent Pictorial Cancellation (PPC) featuring the Thookkuvilakku, a traditional hanging brass oil lamp that is commonly seen in Kerala. The cancellation is used at the Ernakulam Head Post Office Philatelic Bureau (HO-PB), serving PIN code 682011 in Ernakulam district, Kerala. It was inaugurated on 16 June 1978 and continues to remain active to this day.
The Thookkuvilakku, or hanging lamp, has been an inseparable part of Kerala's temple and home traditions for centuries. These lamps, typically made from brass or bronze, are hung from the ceilings of temple sanctuaries and lit during festivals like Onam and Vishu. The gentle swaying of the lamp during rituals and pujas is considered deeply auspicious by the people of Kerala. Lighting such lamps is seen as a way of inviting divine presence and warding off darkness, both literally and spiritually. The craft of making these lamps has been passed down through generations of Kerala's traditional metalworkers, and they remain a cherished symbol of the state's rich cultural and religious heritage.
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