Lacquer Lac Craft Hazaribagh Palamu Jharkhand

Lac cultivation and lacquer craft are traditional occupations of tribal and OBC communities in Hazaribagh, Palamu, and Lohardaga districts of Jharkhand. Lac is secreted by the Kerria lacca insect reared on ber, kusum, and palas trees. Raw lac (stick lac) is scraped from branches, processed into shellac flakes, and used to make lac bangles, traditional toys, decorative items, and wood coatings. Jharkhand is the largest lac producer in India. The Jharkhand State Lac Development Corporation procures raw lac from forest rearers and provides shellac processing machinery to cooperatives. Lac bangle making using a torch-heated rod and lac adhesive is a traditional skill in Hazaribagh. The craft is being upgraded with improved kiln technology and new product designs for urban and export markets.