Mysuru: Lighting a lamp in the beginning of any function is a tradition in our country. It exudes positivity and supposed to bring in prosperity, peace and happiness to the people. It has a spiritual significance. Lamp is a representative of the fire or light and light symbolises knowledge that removes darkness, said Prof. P.K Misra, President, Anthropological Association, Mysuru.

He was speaking after inaugurating Deepam Exhibition at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Southern Regional Centre (SRC), here on Dec.11 and said that such exhibitions reflect the continuity of Indian culture and heritage, cutting across the ethnic boundaries of our nation.

Lamp (Deep) is a part of various tradition and cultures around the world in general and India in particular.

In almost every Indian home across the rural, urban divide, a lamp is lit daily in relation to sacred or secular domains of culture, he added.

IGRMS Officer in-Charge J. Vijay Mohan welcomed and Prof. Sarit Kumar Chaudhari, Director, IGRMS, Bhopal, introduced the chief guest.

Dr. Shashi Kumar, Deputy Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata, Dr. Jakka Parthasarathy, former Director, Tribal Research Centre, Ooty, Dr. Viswanathan Nair, former Director, KIRTADS, Kerala and Himanshu Misra, Scientist-E, BARC, Mumbai, were present.