Half-day the legacy of Lac in Jaipur

Enter a tiny lane called Maniharon ka rasta in Jaipur and you are surrounded by shops and workshops of a small community that has transformed the craft of making objects out of the resin-deposit of the Lac insect, into a style of jewelry unique to Rajasthan. Ambling through this lane, we learn the history of this community and how they arrived in Jaipur in the 18th century.We step into one of these workshops to see craftsmen whose families have been working for as long as seven generations, in action, as resin blocks are gently heated, drawn, twisted and buffed into beautiful bangles. Lac is also used as a bhairav (filler) for gold and meenakari bangles. When Hindu women get married, they wear green and red Lac bangles. These are also worn to mark festivals like Teej and Gangaur. Lac is also used to make pen holders and other decorative items. Back in the days, these were used as gifts to the Kings.