The Making of Lac Bangles

Each time a friend visits Rajasthan, there is a list of things we mention that the person should get for us. The list includes Jewelry from the Johari bazaar in Jaipur, miniature paintings from Udaipur, colourful puppets and Jodhpuri Juttis. Let us not forget Ghewar and Bandhani. The list never ends.

The first on my list is always the lac bangles. Our love for Jewellery is timeless, and the love for bangles never ends. Owning these colourful beauties is every woman’s dream. Dark red, orange, pink, purple, blue, gold, silver and green. Beautifully shining with glass, mirrors, and bead decoration. Some are just simple with a variety of colours, and some with precious gems on them.

Do you know the origin, the process, and the hard work that goes into making these beauties that adore our wrists? Let us find out. The next time the lac bangles adore your wrists, you would know them much better.

The lac insect or Caria lakka (Kerria lacca) produces a resin-like substance called lac. This lac is a natural product which is used in preparing these bangles and many other ornaments. The Caria Lakka grows on trees and takes nutrition from these trees. Lac is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata in a story we all love to hear. It says that the Kauravas built a palace for the Pandavas out of lac which would burn them as lac catches fire quickly. It was called the Lakhshaghar. Another story says that lord Shiva got these beautiful bangles made for Goddess Parvati on the occasion of their Marriage.

Let us now see how Jaipur and Rajasthan became associated with the lac bangle tradition. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh-II of Jaipur was a lover of arts. He had invited artists from every corner of India to Jaipur to make this city known for its art. Among the artists was a Manihar community which collected resins for their art. The street in which the lac bangles are made in Jaipur is called the Path of Manihars or Maniharon ka Raasta.

The process starts with collecting lac from the trees. They then process, clean, and refine it. These are Shellacs. They come to the artists in small, flat discs. They add resin, fine stone powder and water to the shellacs. The mixture is heated, and it turns into a lump. The artists then knead this lump and roll it into a coil.

This coil is then attached to a wooden rod and then rolled. The artist adds coloured lac blocks to get different beautiful colours. They cut the rolled, coloured coil into small pieces and roll it again to make a bangle. A wooden tool called a groove joins the rolled coil into a loop. They polish the bangle by rubbing it with a soft cloth.

Lo and behold! The beautiful bangle is ready. Some of these bangles are simple with different colours, whereas some have precious stones, mirrors, glass, gems, and beads. Many tourists are attracted to these. The colourful lac bangles have travelled to many countries. The art of making lac bangles is not an easy process and takes a lot of effort as it is a handmade craft.

Let us respect and celebrate this art. Making something so beautiful is not an easy task. The artists really work hard to make the bangles. Do not forget to visit Maniharon ka Rasta in Jaipur and get a handful of these beauties for yourself and your loved ones. From being a secretion of an insect to something that dazzles us at its first look, the lac bangles travel a long journey, don’t they? I say they do!

By Reshma Krishnan