Search for “why do Indian women wear toe rings” and the first answers are confident: a nerve from the second toe runs straight to the uterus, silver “absorbs energy from the earth”, the ring presses an acupressure point that keeps periods regular. Then a grandmother adds her own rule: never wear gold on your feet — gold is Lakshmi.

Some of this is lovely tradition. Some of it has no source at all. This guide separates the two: what a bichiya actually means, which toe it goes on, who can wear one, why it is silver, and what the Ramayana really says about Sita’s jewellery.

One finding surprised me. A popular story says Sita dropped her toe rings so Rama could find her. In the Ramayana translation I checked, Lakshmana recognised something else — and the reason he gives is one of the most touching lines in the epic. It is further down.

Is there a scientific reason for wearing toe rings?

Short answer: no scientific study supports the popular health claims. The claims you will see most often are that the second toe has a nerve connected to the uterus and heart, that the ring works as acupressure to regulate periods or help conception, and that silver “conducts” earth energy into the body.

I looked for studies behind these claims and found none. Wikipedia’s Toe ring article mentions the Ayurvedic associations and then states plainly that no scientific studies have verified these claims (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring). A nerve running from the second toe to the uterus does not match standard anatomy either.

The honest version: wear a bichiya because it is beautiful, because it carries your family’s tradition, and because you like it. For period pain, fertility questions or swollen feet, see a doctor — not a jeweller.

So what does a bichiya actually mean?

In much of India, the bichiya (toe ring) is a sign that a woman is married — part of the same family of symbols as sindoor, the mangalsutra and bangles. In many Indian communities the husband places the toe rings on the second toe of both of his wife’s feet during the wedding ceremony (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring). Some lists of solah shringar also count the bichiya and the payal — the adornment that completes a bride from head to toe.

Feet with red alta resting on a carved wooden chowki, silver toe rings on the second toes and silver ghungroo anklets, a brass plate of marigolds and a red saree border behind — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
Silver toe rings on the second toe, silver payal and red alta — the classic married look in many Indian homes.

The meaning is social and cultural, not medical. And it is not exclusively female: in Tamil Nadu men also wear toe rings, usually in simpler designs (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring).

Can unmarried women wear toe rings?

Across most of North India the bichiya is read as a marriage sign, so unmarried girls usually do not wear one there. I did not find any scriptural rule forbidding it. In Western countries toe rings are simply fashion jewellery with no fixed meaning (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring). So the choice comes down to family custom and personal taste — just know that within an Indian community, people may assume a woman wearing a bichiya is married.

Anklets are different. Girls wear payal from childhood; the anklet has never been a married-only ornament.

Which toe is the toe ring worn on — and how many?

The toe ring goes on the second toe of each foot — the one next to the big toe, usually the longest. In India they are worn as a matched pair, unlike in the West where people often wear a single ring or an unmatched pair (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring).

A foot resting on a white sheet with an engraved silver toe ring on the second toe — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
The second toe — next to the big toe — is the traditional place for the bichiya.

Can you take off your bichiya after marriage?

Many families treat the bichiya as a sign of a living husband and keep it on every day. Still, I found no text that attaches sin or bad luck to removing it. Take it off when common sense says so:

  1. Hospital procedures, surgery or an MRI scan — follow the hospital’s instruction to remove metal jewellery.
  2. Swelling, a cut, itching or discolouration around the toe — loosen or remove it, and see a doctor if it does not settle.
  3. Swollen feet in pregnancy — loosening or removing it for a while is sensible.
  4. Sport, the gym or long runs in closed shoes.

And if a bichiya breaks or gets lost? I found no text calling it a bad omen. Silver is soft; daily walking and water wear it thin until it opens or slips off. Many families place a new pair before the home shrine before wearing it — a family custom, not a requirement.

Why silver and not gold on the feet?

Toe rings and anklets are usually silver because gold is considered too respected to wear below the waist — the custom recorded on Wikipedia, which also notes that the rule is not followed very strictly and that gold and diamond toe rings are common (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring).

On maroon velvet, a gold necklace, gold bangles and jhumkas above, and below them a pair of silver ghungroo anklets and four silver toe rings — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
The common household rule — gold above the waist, silver on the feet.
What people sayWhat I found
Gold is too sacred for below the waistRecorded as custom (Wikipedia, Toe ring) — “not followed very strictly”
Gold on the feet insults Goddess LakshmiThe feeling is understandable, but no Purana or Smriti verse found
Gold is “hot”, silver is “cool”, so silver suits the feetNo Ayurvedic verse found; repeated online without a source
Gold on the feet angers the planets or drains wealthFolk astrology; not found in any text

None of this makes the custom wrong. Not touching something precious with your feet is a gesture of respect — the same instinct that stops us from stepping over a book. It is a family tradition to keep if you love it, not a fear to live with.

Now the Ramayana — and the line that makes the anklet more than an ornament.

Anklets in the Ramayana: what Lakshmana recognised

As Ravana carried Sita away, she tied some of her ornaments in her upper garment and let them fall. Later Sugriva showed the bundle to Rama, who asked Lakshmana whether he recognised them. Lakshmana’s reply:

“I do not recognise these armlets, nor these earrings. But I do recognise these anklets — because I bowed at her feet every day.”
— Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, sarga 6, verse 22 (nāhaṃ jānāmi keyūre nāhaṃ jānāmi kuṇḍale / nūpure tv abhijānāmi nityaṃ pādābhivandanāt), tr. Desiraju Hanumanta Rao (valmikiramayan.net) — wording paraphrased
In a forest, Lakshmana sits by a rock with a yellow cloth and holds up a silver anklet, while Rama stands beside him with bow and arrows — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
Lakshmana knew Sita’s anklets, not her earrings — because his eyes were always at her feet.

Lakshmana had never looked at his sister-in-law’s face ornaments; his gaze stayed at her feet. It is one of the finest illustrations of charan sparsh, the custom of touching elders’ feet.

Two honest caveats. First, the same translation page notes that this verse is absent from some old manuscripts and from the Baroda critical edition, so scholars disagree about it. Second, Wikipedia’s Toe ring article says Sita dropped her toe ring; in the translation of this sarga that I checked, the ornament named is the nūpura — the anklet — and no toe ring is mentioned. That is the result of my search, not a final verdict; other versions of the Ramayana may tell it differently.

Why do Indian women wear anklets (payal)?

The payal is one of India’s oldest ornaments. Describing the famous “dancing girl” figurine from Mohenjo-daro, the archaeologist John Marshall noted her armlets, bangles and anklets (courtesy: Wikipedia, Anklet). The Tamil epic Silappatikaram is named after one: its title means “the story of the anklet” (silambu). Kovalan is executed in Madurai after being falsely accused of stealing the queen’s anklet, and his wife Kannagi proves his innocence by producing her own matching anklet in court (courtesy: Wikipedia, Silappatikaram). The epic is usually dated to around the fifth century CE.

  1. Adornment — alta and payal together are a fixture of Indian painting and folk song.
  2. Sound — small bells are attached so that the wearer makes a pleasing sound while walking; dancers of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Odissi tie ghungroo at their ankles (courtesy: Wikipedia, Anklet).
  3. Presence in the home — in large old houses, the chime told the family who was crossing the courtyard. That is lived experience, not scripture.
  4. Heirloom — heavy silver anklets pass down generations; Rajasthani women wear the heaviest type (courtesy: Wikipedia, Anklet).
A woman in a white saree with a red border walks barefoot across a terracotta courtyard floor, silver anklets on her feet and a brass lota in her hand — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
The chime of payal in a courtyard — an old sound of Indian homes.

Names of toe rings and anklets across India

LanguageToe ring
Hindibichiya, bichhua
Marathijodavi
Telugumettelu
Tamilmetti
Kannadakaalungura
Malayalamminji
Bengaliangot

For the anklet: payal or pazeb in Hindi, jhanjar in Punjabi, nupur in Bengali, and golusu or pattilu in the south (courtesy: Wikipedia, Toe ring and Anklet).

Five pairs of silver toe rings in different designs on white cloth — plain bands, coiled, fish-shaped, with tiny bells, and floral — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
From plain bands to tiny bells — designs change with region and family.

Wearing a bichiya and payal outside India

At airport security, a woman in sandals stands beside a trolley suitcase, silver toe rings on her toes and a fine anklet — AI-generated image (Roopalia)
Outside India, a thin, plain pair is the most comfortable for daily wear.

Why silver toe rings turn black — and simple care

Silver darkens through contact with sulphur in air and sweat. It is chemistry, not the “evil eye”.

  1. Soak for a few minutes in warm water with mild soap; clean with a soft brush.
  2. Dry thoroughly — damp silver tarnishes faster.
  3. Store anklets you do not wear daily in a closed pouch.
  4. Keep perfume, lotion and household cleaners away from them.
  5. Replace a toe ring whose edge has worn sharp — it can cut the toe.

What I found and what I did not

ClaimResult
Lakshmana recognised Sita’s anklets (nūpura)Found — Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha 6.22 (absent from some recensions)
Sita dropped her toe ringsNot found in the translation of that sarga
Second toe, worn in pairs, usually silverFound — Wikipedia, Toe ring
Husband places the rings at the weddingFound — in many communities (Wikipedia, Toe ring)
No gold below the waistFound as custom, “not followed very strictly”
Gold on the feet insults LakshmiNot found in any text
Nerve to the uterus / acupressure benefitNo scientific study found
Anklets are thousands of years oldFound — Mohenjo-daro figurine, Silappatikaram

The bottom line: the bichiya is a marriage sign worn in pairs on the second toe, usually in silver because gold is kept above the waist out of respect — a custom, not a scriptural command. The health claims have no study behind them. The payal is India’s oldest ornament, and the Ramayana gives it its most moving moment. Wear both for love, tradition and beauty — not out of fear.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a scientific reason for wearing toe rings?
No scientific study supports it. Popular claims say the second toe has a nerve connected to the uterus and heart, that the toe ring works as acupressure to regulate periods or help conception, and that silver passes “earth energy” into the body. I looked for studies behind these claims and found none, and Wikipedia’s Toe ring article states that no scientific studies have verified them. The idea of a nerve running from the second toe to the uterus does not match standard anatomy. The real meaning of the bichiya is social and cultural: it marks a married woman in many Indian communities and completes the bride’s adornment. Wear it for tradition and beauty; for period pain, fertility questions or swollen feet, see a doctor.
Why do married Indian women wear toe rings?
In much of India the bichiya is a sign of marriage, like sindoor, the mangalsutra and bangles. In many communities the husband places the toe rings on the second toe of both of his wife’s feet during the wedding ceremony (Wikipedia, Toe ring), and many women keep them on every day afterwards. Some lists of solah shringar, the sixteen adornments of a bride, include the toe ring and the anklet. Names differ by region — bichiya in Hindi, metti in Tamil, mettelu in Telugu, jodavi in Marathi, minji in Malayalam — but the meaning is broadly the same. In Tamil Nadu men also wear simple toe rings, so the ornament is not exclusively female.
Which toe is the toe ring worn on?
The toe ring is worn on the second toe of each foot — the toe next to the big toe, usually the longest. In India toe rings are worn as a matched pair, one on each foot, whereas in Western countries people often wear one ring or an unmatched pair (Wikipedia, Toe ring). Many families add rings on the third and fourth toes too; that depends on region and family custom. The big toe is not the usual place today. Most traditional bichiyas are open-ended, so they can be gently squeezed to fit. If the toe looks pale or bluish, or the ring leaves a deep mark, it is too tight and should be loosened.
Can unmarried girls wear toe rings?
There is no scriptural rule against it that I could find. Across most of North India, however, the bichiya is read as a sign of marriage, so unmarried girls there usually do not wear one, and people in an Indian community may assume a woman wearing it is married. In Western countries toe rings are ordinary fashion jewellery with no fixed meaning (Wikipedia, Toe ring). So the choice comes down to family custom and personal taste. Anklets are different: girls wear payal from childhood, and the anklet has never been an ornament reserved for married women. If you are unsure, ask the elders in your family what their custom is.
Why are toe rings and anklets made of silver, not gold?
The common explanation is that gold is considered too respected to wear below the waist, so the feet get silver. Wikipedia records this custom and adds that the rule is not followed very strictly — gold and diamond toe rings are common. Many families say gold is Lakshmi and should not touch the feet; I understand the feeling but found no Purana or Smriti verse that says so. The claim that gold is “hot” and silver “cool”, making silver right for the feet, also has no Ayurvedic verse behind it that I could find. Silver is also softer, cheaper and easier to resize, which suits jewellery worn every day while walking.
Can you remove your toe rings after marriage?
Yes, when there is a reason. Many families treat the bichiya as a sign of marriage and keep it on daily, but I found no text that attaches sin or bad luck to removing it. Remove it for surgery, hospital procedures or an MRI scan, as hospitals ask; when the toe is swollen, cut, itchy or discoloured; when feet swell in pregnancy; and for sport or long runs in closed shoes. Families who keep the custom often find a middle way — one thin ring on each foot, or wearing the full pair again for pujas and festivals. If a toe ring breaks or is lost, no text calls it a bad omen; silver is soft and simply wears out.
What does the Ramayana say about Sita’s anklets?
In the Valmiki Ramayana (Kishkindha Kanda, sarga 6, verse 22), Sugriva shows Rama the ornaments Sita dropped while being carried away. Lakshmana says he does not recognise the armlets or the earrings, but does recognise the anklets (nūpura), because he bowed at her feet every day (tr. Desiraju Hanumanta Rao). It is often quoted as a model of respect for elders. Two caveats: the translation page notes that this verse is absent from some old manuscripts and the Baroda critical edition; and although Wikipedia’s Toe ring article says Sita dropped her toe ring, no toe ring is named in the translation of that sarga I checked — the ornament is the anklet.
Why do silver toe rings and anklets turn black?
Silver darkens when it reacts with sulphur in the air and in sweat; it is ordinary chemistry, not the evil eye or a bad sign. Toe rings darken fastest because they meet sweat, soap, water and dust every day, and chlorinated pool water speeds it up. To clean them, soak for a few minutes in warm water with mild soap, brush gently with a soft brush and dry thoroughly. Store anklets you are not wearing in a closed pouch, and keep perfume, lotion and household cleaners away from them. Check the edges of toe rings now and then: a ring worn thin can develop a sharp edge that cuts the toe, and should be replaced.

Sources and cautions: sources consulted — Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, sarga 6, verse 22 (tr. Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, valmikiramayan.net — not a mainstream reference site, so no link is given); toe ring names, the second toe, the silver and gold custom, the wedding rite and the absence of scientific studies: Wikipedia (Toe ring); anklet names, Rajasthan, Mohenjo-daro and bells: Wikipedia (Anklet); Silappatikaram: Wikipedia. Three things should be said plainly. First, a verse saying gold on the feet insults Lakshmi, an Ayurvedic verse calling gold “hot” and silver “cool”, any text calling a lost toe ring a bad omen, and the story of Sita dropping her toe rings were not found; that is the result of a search, not a final verdict. Second, every family and region has its own custom; follow your elders. Third, this article is not medical advice; with swelling, a wound or discolouration around the toe, see a doctor. No brand or shop is recommended.

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