Bihar - Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom https://gaatha.org Indian Craft online Sat, 30 May 2026 14:12:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.12 https://gaatha.org/wp-content/uploads/gaatha-logo-63x63.png Bihar - Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom https://gaatha.org 32 32 Lahthi (Lac Bangle) ~ Muzaffarpur https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/lahthi-craft-muzaffarpur-lac-bangle/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/lahthi-craft-muzaffarpur-lac-bangle/#respond Fri, 29 May 2026 12:38:13 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=19052 Lahthi, the traditional lac bangle craft of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, represents a long-standing artisanal tradition rooted in material culture, ritual practice and hereditary craftsmanship. Made from lac, a natural resin secreted by the insect Kerria lacca, these bangles occupy an important place in the social and cultural life of eastern India. The craft survives through […]

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]]> Lahthi, the traditional lac bangle craft of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, represents a long-standing artisanal tradition rooted in material culture, ritual practice and hereditary craftsmanship. Made from lac, a natural resin secreted by the insect Kerria lacca, these bangles occupy an important place in the social and cultural life of eastern India. The craft survives through the labour of hereditary artisan communities such as the Laheras or Lakheras, alongside Muslim artisan families who have sustained and expanded the trade over generations.
The craft exists at the intersection of economy, ritual and identity. Lahthi is worn during marriages, festivals and life-cycle ceremonies, while the production system supports thousands of artisans through household workshops, neighbourhood clusters and informal labour networks. Muzaffarpur, particularly the Islampur and Rampur Bakhari clusters, emerged as one of India’s largest centres of lac bangle production during the twentieth century.

The post Lahthi (Lac Bangle) ~ Muzaffarpur first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

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