International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Call for Paper Volume 8, Issue 1 (January-February 2026) Submit your research before last 3 days of February to publish your research paper in the issue of January-February.
Submit Research Paper Join as a Reviewer

Plagiarism is checked by the leading plagiarism checker TurnItIn

Call for Paper

Volume 8 Issue 1
January-February 2026

Submit your research paper

Indexing Partners
Academia Advanced Sciences Index Bielefeld Academic Search Engine CiteSeer DRJI Google Scholar Independent Search Engine & Directory Network ISI (International Scientific Indexing) Issuu Mendeley Research Networks
RefSeek ResearcherId - Thomson Reuters ResearchGate Scirus Scribd Semantic Scholar UTeM - Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Wiki for Call for Papers WorldCat Zenodo

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

Author(s) Mr. Subhash Kumar, Dr. Tushar Arya
Country India
Abstract 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.
Keywords Lahthi craft, Lac bangles, Intangible cultural heritage, Craft-based livelihoods, Material culture and identity, Women artisans, Community-based production, Traditional knowledge systems
Field Sociology > Economics
Published In Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On 2026-02-04
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.67927
View / Download PDF File

Share this



E-ISSN 2582-2160
CrossRef

CrossRef DOI is assigned to each research paper published in our journal.

IJFMR DOI prefix is
10.36948/ijfmr

Downloads
Research Paper Format Copyright Permission Form and Undertaking Form Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 1Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 6Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 5

All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.

CC-BY-SA Open Access

About IJFMR
Fees & Payment
Current Issue
Publication Archive 		Submit Research Paper
Track Submission Status
Publication Guidelines
Publication Ethics
Peer Review & Plagiarism 		Join as a Reviewer
Editors & Reviewers
Reviewer Referral Program
Get Reviewer Membership Certi. 		Website/Journal Policies
Usage Policy
Content Policies
Privacy Policy
Contact Us +91-9687-828-838 editor@ijfmr.com