Originally from Bengaluru, B. S. Murugesh Nayakar set up shop in 1936 with 20 odd Petromax lamps he bought from Germany and Czechoslovakia.
People rent these lamps during mid-July to celebrate the festival of ‘Aadi Perukku’, and mid September-October, which is considered auspicious by many Hindus.
Customers say that Petromax can give the “divine golden glow to idols”, which the other lights cannot.