Toe rings are one of the five auspicious symbols for married women in Indian culture. Further, the toe rings are as important a symbol as the black beaded mangalsutra.
In our tradition, it has long been believed that if a woman wears vermilion on the forehead, bangles on her hands, nose ring, earrings along with toe rings, then the attire of a bride is all complete. Such a tradition made by the elders are recently proven to be conducive to health too.
There is a ritual during the wedding of slipping a toe ring on to the bride’s toe. This ritual is undertaken by mother of the bride or elderly married women of the community or bridegroom or maternal uncle or mother-in-law, depending on the various communities. In some traditions, even a bridegroom wears a toe ring for a day on the wedding.
The toe ring is usually worn on the toe next to the big toe on both the legs. The silver toe ring worn after marriage though is a traditional jewellery, it is fashionable and decorative at the same time. The jewellery of girls change according to the trend and toe rings too are not an exception to this fashion rule. For change, and that casual look, girls prefer white metal, or other funky metal or even of plastic instead of the silver ones.
Today all over the world, the 5oe rings worn by unmarried girls too. Especially for City girls it has become a non,-fussy fashion accessory. Girls flaunt their feet with different kinds of toe rings based on their dressing style and also footwear that ranges from sandals and flip-flops.
The toe rings are mostly of silver. But today few prefer wearing a gold toe rings. Some scientific studies suggest that gold toe rings are not good for body. Moreover, there is a belief in the Hindu tradition that gold symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, and hence few prefer not to wear gold jewellery on their feet.
There are several benefits to wearing a silver ring. The silver toes absorb the Earth’s polar energy and send positive energy throughout the body. In addition, silver has the power to prevent skin diseases, and improve blood circulation. Science also suggests that wearing toe rings keep uterus healthy.
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