Lahthi of Muzaffarpur: Identity, Craft, Community & Cultural Heritage

Traditional crafts in India function not merely as economic activities but as carriers of identity, memory, and community knowledge. The Lahthi (lac bangle) craft of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, represents one such living heritage where material culture, gendered practices, and local economies intersect. This study, based on secondary data, examines Lahthi through four interlinked lenses: identity, craft practice, community organisation, and cultural heritage. The findings indicate that Lahthi production is embedded in intergenerational knowledge systems, where artisanal skills are transmitted within families and neighbourhood clusters. The craft’s aesthetic vocabulary—characterised by vibrant colours, glass embellishments, and symbolic designs—links everyday adornment with ritual significance, particularly in marriage customs and regional festivals. Beyond its cultural value, Lahthi sustains livelihoods, especially for women artisans engaged in home-based and cluster-supported production systems. Recent institutional interventions, including cluster development initiatives and market linkage programs, have contributed to improved income opportunities and greater visibility of the craft beyond local markets. At the same time, the study highlights structural challenges such as raw material constraints, competition from synthetic substitutes, and changing consumer preferences. By situating Lahthi within debates on intangible cultural heritage and craft-based rural economies, the article argues that its survival depends on balancing tradition with adaptive innovation. The craft thus emerges as both a cultural marker of Muzaffarpur’s regional identity and a dynamic socio-economic resource.