Rajasthan's renowned lac bangles are as old as the city itself. The then-ruler of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, was particularly interested in turning his city into a hub for artisans and craftspeople in the year 1727 CE. Lac is the organic resin that a tiny insect secretes and gathers from trees. The expert artisans then convert this into lac coils to make beautiful bracelets out of it. Newlywed ladies in Jaipur, Rajasthan, are expected to wear lac bangles made there since they are seen as auspicious. Lac jewellery is intricate and colourful. The patterns are updated frequently to reflect the latest fashions and trends. This art form of creating lac bangles has been carried down for seven generations, and while the designs have changed over the years, the process has remained the same.
The Maniharon ka Rasta lac work district of Jaipur is home to some lac Rajasthani bangle artisans. Bangle lovers can frequently be seen meandering through Rajasthan's little lanes. Men put through a lot of effort to retrieve hot, semisolid material from kilns while their Maniharies wives work in sales. Since the reign of the Maharaja, the popularity of lac bangles among ladies has grown, and today you can find a Manihari Lac Shop in any city or rural area of this country. The technique of creating lac bangles is fairly laborious, just like other handicrafts. It is important to note that lac bangles are being manufactured by hand nowadays. Even now, technology that dates back hundreds of years is used. The machine hasn't been altered, and the procedure doesn't use it at all. Utilizing excellent tools and the same old talent.
The purity of the raw materials utilised in these bangles, according to the artisans, is what makes them unique. Lacquer is a natural material, and lacquer bangles are made without the use of any chemicals. Like other indigenous arts, this art is clouded by uncertainty. Despite the popularity of lac bangles, the Manihar community is grappling with various problems. The new generation does not find this work beneficial and does not want to make it their profession. Glass bangles also threaten this art. The number of customers has also reduced due to malls and shopping centres. For these artists, the degrading environment is another issue. Trees are used in the making of lacquer, however, tree-cutting and environmental changes have had an impact on lacquer production. As a result, raw materials have also increased in price. These circumstances collectively have made the lives of these artisans challenging.
After learning the trade, even international people have begun wearing these Lac bangles and even exporting them to other foreign nations. But, there is a significant fall in the demand for these bangles in our nation over the last decade. It is time to give more attention to the craft of creating bangles, which has been passed down from generation to generation. It is crucial to keep alive the vital knowledge and skills required to make it. We must comprehend the value of this tradition, and preserving it will preserve the Rajasthani heritage.