Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
lac-bangles-jaipur

If you ask any Indian woman if she likes to wear bangles, just ask for a show of hands and you’ll know. The jingling sound that these pretty things make, are something that make them lovable. Not only do they make a woman’s hands look attractive but they are also a kind of traditional symbol for a lot of different beliefs. It is also considered to be an auspicious piece of ornament. For most people, it signifies that a woman is married. Even men are known to wear a sort of bangle known as a ‘Kada’.

You can usually see married women showing off the red colored lac bangles. Women have all sort of piece of jewelry when it comes to bangles. From gold to glass, you can find all kind of ‘choodis’ but it’s the lac choodis that are seen the most on the hands of our Pink City ladies. You can mix and match them with most of the outfits. But let us not get involved in all the different kind of bangles that Indian people wear but discuss about a very special kind that Jaipur is known for, the lac bangle or as people here usually call it, ‘lac ki choodiyaa’.

lac_bangles
This handcrafted ornament stemmed from our desert state is a jewelry that is more popular in the rural parts. However, urban women are also known to wear them not only everyday but also on occasions. They come in all kinds of vivid colors and designs and are made by the most skilled workers. These bangles have their own glint that comes from the delicate glass work that is done on them. It seems brittle but if the lac, from which it is made, is combined with a material such as white clay, then it acts sturdier. Its making is not that simple since it is an art that has originated from the tribal people.

lac-bangles-jaipur lac-bangles

Since Jaipur is the hub for this particular variety of jewelry, it has stores in every part of the city. One of the more famous places to get it is ‘Johari Bazaar’ as well as the ‘Artificial and Lac jewelry’ store in Vaishali Nagar. With the festivities just around the corner, the demand for these bangles is high and it’s a feast for the eyes and ears to see wrists with color and clang!

 Lac-bangle-design

By Pankaj Singh

Editor. Talking about future fascinates me.