The Story of Lachka Topi
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This video documents the Lachka cap from Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir.
Traditionally made by women, the Lachka was sent by the groom’s family to the bride’s family to formalise marriage alliances. It held cultural value as a symbol of dignity and identity, particularly among Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. Production has declined as the cap is now rarely worn.
This exhibit looks at the story of the craft that is made up of time, matter and motivation. It particularly revisits the relationship between the tools, the material and motivations, the land, and the hand that makes the craft. The aim is to preserve the local practice embedded in landscape and leverage it for sustainable economic development of craft communities.