Lac Bangles of India

Lisa Roy

Lac Bangles of India

When a man presents his lady with varying designs and quantities of bangles, it is considered a symbol of "the complete woman" or "Saubhagya." Bangles have been made from a variety of metals throughout history, including bronze, copper, gold, and silver. However, the craft of making lac bangles is unique to India.

Beautiful Lac Bangles from Rajasthan; Image Source- Live History India

Bangles are one of the oldest forms of jewelry in human history. Remember the iconic Mohenjodaro dancing girl with bangles on her arms? Bangles have traditionally been made from a variety of materials, ranging from terracotta to shell, wood to glass and bangles have been an important part of Indian culture and traditions from the Harappans to the Mauryans to modern times.

But, did you know that the Indian state of Rajasthan is well-known for its unique handcrafted bangles? The Rajasthani Manihar community handcrafts beautiful lacquered bangles. The royal family of Jaipur patronized the art of making lac bangles (Capital City of Rajasthan). These bangles are now regarded as a prime example of the city's illustrious handicraft tradition.

Lac is derived from the residue of a material secreted by the insect species Laccifer Lacca and Tachardia Lacca. Lac farmers obtain this residue and process it through several cleaning stages until they obtain the odor and color of lac that we are familiar with.

Lac makers melt pure lac and combine it with wax and titanium to add color and cohesiveness. The molten lac is extremely sticky. It adheres to the surface to which it is applied (for example, a metal bangle ring). As a result, when molten lac is obtained from mud kilns, it is first placed on an oil-coated metal place before being rolled into equal-sized pieces that fit the bangle design.

While men work hard to obtain hot and semisolid material from kilns, their wives, Maniharies, work as salespeople. Since Maharaja's time, women's love for lac bangles has spread, and you can now find a Manihari Lac Shop in any corner of this county whether it's a city or village. Lac bangles are more than just ornaments for Indian women; they are an important part of their identity, which they treasure and wear with pride. Women of all ages enjoy wearing bangles. Because of this, it will never go out of style.

For as long as we can remember, bangles, which are derived from the Hindi word 'Bungri,' have captivated Rajasthani women's eyes, hearts, and souls. These fine round jewelry may not be worth millions, but the emotional value they provide makes every woman feel wealthy while wearing them. Lac Bangles, in their various forms, follows a girl's life from her toddler years, when her cute wrists unintentionally flaunt small bands, to her adolescent years, especially when she embraces womanhood.

The best bangle craftsmen in Rajasthan live in Jaipur's lac work district, Maniharon ka Rasta. Bangle fans can often be found wandering in the narrow lane of Rajasthan, listening to the sweet-filled sound of tinkling bangles, admiring the captivating colors, and haggling with shoppers about a price.

Lac bangles were first made in India during the reign of Jaipur's King Jay Singh. During the establishment of the pink city, Maharaja summoned lac craftsmen from Manoharpur, Uttar Pradesh. They came to work here, and their tiny, circular ornaments became so popular with the local women that they decided to move their professional base to Jaipur.

But that isn't the real case when our history addressed the Lac's antiquity. This natural resin has been mentioned in Indian texts dating back to the Vedas, where the Lac tree (Laksha Taru) is mentioned. The Lac insect, its habits, and its utility are described in a small chapter of the Atharva Veda. The story of the Lac palace, which was built by the Kauravas as part of a plot to eliminate the Pandavas, is mentioned in the Mahabharata as well.