- Avarna Jain,
Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media
Did You Know That It's A Good Omen For Indian Brides To Wear Nose Rings?
This little piece of our heritage is a tale as old as time!
Paintings by Raja Ravi VarmaWikimedia Commons
Traditionally, nose rings are an integral part of any South Asian bride’s look. In the context of India, the nose ring is more than just a beautiful ornament—although today women only see it as an accessory to be worn on their wedding day, in ancient times the nose ring was traditionally seen as the symbol of a woman’s marital status.
The time-honoured ornament, believed to have been introduced to India during the Mughal Era, stands for much more than an aesthetic piece of jewellery. In some cultures, it symbolises wealth and prosperity. In Indian culture, it is considered an important ornament for a married woman. It is one of the Solah Shringar, or the sixteen adornments a Hindu bride must wear, each of the elements holding a deep cultural significance. Some also believe that wearing a nose ring is a way to pay respect to Goddess Parvati, the Indian Goddess of marriage, so that she blesses the couple with health, wealth and prosperity.
Deepika Padukone wearing a nose ring at her weddingInstagram/Deepika Padukone
Apart from the deep cultural significance, nose rings are also said to have an impact on a woman’s health. Some ancient Ayurvedic texts suggest that wearing a nose ring or nose pin can help with menstrual cramps and even facilitate child birth.
Nose rings have a history that spans centuries, and have also made appearances in a lot of Ancient Indian paintings, including paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, reiterating that they have always been a little part of our culture that we need to preserve.
A painting by Raja Ravi VarmaWikimedia Commons
The ways to wear the nose ring also vary in different parts of India. In the North, West and Central regions, the nose ring is traditionally worn on the left nostril, while in the South region, it is worn on the right. Whereas, in certain tribal communities in the Northern parts of India, women prefer to wear septums, called Bulaks.
Anushka Sharma wearing a nose ring at her weddingInstagram/Anushka Sharma
The styles of the nose rings also vary from region to region. In Maharashtra, women wear Peshwai naths, made in beads and pearls. In Rajasthan, women wear big Rajputi naths. In Punjab, women wear laung, or a traditional nose pin, named so because it resembles a clove, which translates to “laung” in Hindi. In certain regions of Southern India, women wear “Mookuthi”, a small, intricate nose ring.
Dear brides, whether you want to wear a dainty little nose ring, or a nath the size of a bangle on your wedding day, do consider adding this little piece of our heritage to your wedding look, as a sign of holding on to your culture.
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