Since many centuries Nashik is famous the world over for brass and copper utensils, artistic and superbly crafted idols and many other utility items of copper and brass required in the day-to-day lives. The items like hunda, kalshi, khalbatta, phirkicha tambya, samai and the article used for the worship like niranjan, tabak, pali-bhande etc were the specialty of Nashik and its artisans called Tambats or coppersmiths. The two famous old and new Tambat Lanes are still famous in Nashik though these days one rarely witnesses the well-built and barechested coppersmiths busy shaping the hun-das or other such things by hitting them out with hammers and chisels. Until recently there used to be continuous thun thun-like din all over these lanes round the clock and the people living around got used to it and had such camaraderie that they never complained about the noise.

But the arrival of steel utensils in the sev¬enties adversely affected this century-old business of many families of Nashik. Now there is not a single big factory as against the olden days in Nashik that manufactures copper and brass articles. The generations of Kale, Ambekar, Tapkire and many others who devised various useful and attractive items in brass and copper are instrumental in giving the city a place of pride in the hearts of the people of India.

For nearly last two centuries the dazzling and sparkling white metal called Nashik silver has bewitched not only the affluent class but also the common man from allover India. The demand rises during the festive season and the marriage season but other¬wise also the sale remains steady But what is so special about Nashik Silver?

Says Girish Takle of Takle Bandhu , "The Nashik silver metal as well the articles loti, taat, tabak, samai, kelechi paan, daav, pali and bhande etc made from it have cast such a magic spell on the psyche of the people that in spite of the upheavals in the market the demand has not decreased even a bit The demand is for different purposes for dif¬ferent people like for investment or giving as gift but mostly people purchase items made from silver for pooja. The industries also ask for raw silver for making electronic items. All these pulls and pressures have kept silver always in demand, notwithstanding the ever¬rising rates."

It is for purity and the very attractive and aesthetic shape given by the artisans from Nashik to the articles that make people go for the silver and silver items from Nashik, inform the jewellers. The contribution, in this field of the other leading firms like Dande, Adgaonkar, vaishmapayan, Jakhadi, Jawaharlal Shah and the newly arrived Bafna, Rajmal Lakhichand and PN Gadgil is no small one. All these worthies and many small traders are helping to keep the name and reputation of Nashik clean, spotless and shining as ever.