Why Indian married women wear toe rings, origin and significance
By: Team Ifairer | Posted: 08-05-2019
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Toe rings (Bichhiya) worn as matching pairs on the second toes are traditional symbols of being married for Indian women in some communities. In India, toe rings are worn for several reasons: decorative (jewelry), protective (mirrored to reflect the evil eye), or curative (gemstones with healing powers), or to denote marital status.
Even in Indian history the epic 'Ramayana' there were some topics related to toe ring. i.e. When Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, on the way, she throw her toe ring as the identification for lord Rama which shows that toe ring is used from ancient time.
'Bichiyas' may not be made of gold, as gold holds a 'respected' status and may not be worn below the waist. Indians especially Hindus believe that gold is the metal of the God Lakshmi Devi, The Goddess of Wealth, and therefore they considers it inappropriate to wear gold below the waist.
Wearing toe ring to the second toe has sexual/erotic effect.
Toe rings are worn for a scientific reason, which states that there are pressure points in the second toes of our feet. As per the Vedas, applying pressure to these points helps in regulating the menstrual cycle in women, increases the chances of conception and also keeps the uterus healthy by ensuring blood circulation.