Bangle Making

Bangle making in Bihar is one of the main handicraft industries of the state. Muzaffarpur has specialized in the making of exquisite bangles which are adored all over India and the world because of their unsurpassed beauty. Bangles are more than a mere ornament in India. It is intrinsically associated with the very culture of the country, specially in the Northern and Western states. The wearing of he bangles is a major ritual of the marriage ceremony and are accompanied with ritualistic songs and dances and other festivities. They are used profusely by married women and are worn on every significant occasion.

Bangle making of Bihar is largely centered around the region of Muzaffarpur. It is a very lucrative small scale industry of the region. The artisans involved in bangle making collect their raw material from the nearby forests, mainly lac and the natural colors used in the making of these colorful roundels. Bright and brilliant colors are typically used in bangles. They range from vermilion to bright yellow, from resplendent reds and purples to shining golds. The artisans from Muzaffarpur specialize in the making of a special kinds of bangles called the lahathi. They form an integral part of Bihar's bangle making tradition. These lac bangles are wonderfully decorated in bright colors usually orange and yellow and they are striped exquisitely. Often small mirror like glass pieces are adorned on the bangles.

Bangle making at Bihar has also become an integral part of the women empowerment movements. Various societies committed to the cause of economically empowering the women of Bihar, often pursue bangle making as a possible avenue to financially uplift the womenfolk and carve out an independent and dignified lives for themselves. Patori has been a place where such efforts have been very successfully carried out.