🇮🇳 India
The mangalsutra, a necklace of black beads and gold, is tied on the bride's neck by the groom in many Hindu communities, and toe rings are worn by married women. Many couples also exchange rings at the engagement.
Mangalsutra, being writtenRings, knots and tokens of promise
A ring is the best-known sign of a marriage, but it is one among many ways of binding two people: a knotted cord, a pair of bracelets, a coin, a necklace, a shared cup.
Presented by ClearTrust Free for couples, families, guests and the curious.
A ring is the best-known sign of a marriage, but it is one among many ways of binding two people: a knotted cord, a pair of bracelets, a coin, a necklace, a shared cup. Each token is a way of making a promise visible. Some are worn for life, some are used for the ceremony alone, and some are given to the couple by their families.
Why a ring
Rings are circles, with no end, which people read as the image of a promise that does not stop. The Roman habit of giving a ring at betrothal and the medieval church's blessing of rings, spread through Europe and then the world with Christianity and trade. Rings are now exchanged in most countries, in civil and religious ceremonies, often on the left hand in much of Europe and on the right in Orthodox countries, Germany, India and elsewhere.
Other tokens that bind
Many cultures use something other than rings. The Hindu mangalsutra is a necklace tied round the bride's neck, and the toe rings (bichiya) mark a married woman. The Scottish and Irish handfasting ties the couple's hands with a cord. In Georgia, Orthodox couples wear crowns; in the Philippines the arras coins are handed over; in Sikh weddings the couple are linked by a scarf during the lavan. In several African and Pacific cultures, bracelets, beads or cloth are exchanged.
Metals, stones and meaning
Gold is preferred across much of Asia and the Middle East for its value and purity, and in some Islamic communities men are advised not to wear gold, so a silver or platinum ring is used. The diamond engagement ring became standard in the twentieth century partly through advertising. Other couples choose a plain band, a family ring, a sapphire or a ring made from a grandparent's gold, and some wear tattoos or bands of silicone.
How it is changing
Same-sex couples, many couples who marry later, and people who do not wish to wear jewellery have made the choice more personal. Ethical sourcing, lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold are growing choices. Many people exchange rings at the engagement and again at the wedding, or have a ring blessed at a faith service.
Rings, knots and tokens of promise around the world
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Muslim couples may exchange rings at the engagement, and the nikah is made by the signed contract with the groom's promise of mahr. The groom's family commonly gives the bride gold jewellery.
Nikah, being written🇮🇩 Indonesia
Couples exchange rings, and many Javanese brides wear jasmine garlands, the melati, hung from the hair and chest. The groom's gift (seserahan) includes cloth, a set of toiletries and fruit.
Seserahan, being written🇵🇭 Philippines
The yugal cord and the veil are laid over the couple by the sponsors, and thirteen arras coins are given from the groom to the bride. Together they stand for unity and the sharing of wealth.
Wedding, being written🇨🇳 China
Couples today exchange rings, and in many families the groom's side gives the bride gold jewellery. Older Han custom included a hair-pinning rite for the bride, the ji li, and gifts of jade.
Chinese marriage, being written🇬🇪 Georgia
In the Orthodox ceremony priests place crowns on the heads of the couple, and the pair exchange rings that have been blessed on the altar.
Stefana, being writtenTraditions to start with
Wedding ringThe exchange and meaning of the ring.
Engagement ringThe ring of promise.
Claddagh ringThe Irish ring of love, loyalty and friendship.
HandfastingBinding the couple's hands.
Las arrasThirteen coins given by the groom.
Toe ringA married woman's ring in India.
Wedding cordThe wedding lasso of Mexico and Spain.Also part of it, and being written: Mangalsutra (The Hindu marriage necklace.).
Questions people ask
Which finger does the wedding ring go on?
The left hand ring finger in much of Europe and the Americas, the right hand in Germany, Poland, Russia, India and many Orthodox countries. There is no single rule.
Do all weddings have rings?
No. Other tokens such as necklaces, cords, coins, bracelets and crowns are used in many places, sometimes with rings as well.
Why is the ring a circle?
A circle has no beginning or end, so it stands for a lasting promise. This is a symbolic reading used in many cultures.
Should a ring be bought new?
That is a personal choice. Many couples use family rings, second-hand rings or recycled gold.
About this page
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Rings, knots and tokens of promise on EveryShaadi
The traditions written up so far, best known first.
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
🇰🇷 South Korea and 5 moreBlessing ceremony of the Unification ChurchHoly Marriage Blessing Ceremony (축복결혼식)
A large-scale marriage rededication or new union ceremony that engrafts couples into a sinless lineage.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany and 3 moreWimpelווימפל
A linen sash made from a baby boy's circumcision cloth that binds the Torah scroll.Adornment · The weeks before
🇮🇷 Iran and 1 moreNikahnikāḥ (Arabic: نِكَاح)
The Islamic marriage contract that establishes a binding union between two people.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇪🇬 Egypt and 4 moreWaist beads
Strands of glass or seed worn around the hips to mark womanhood and track body changes in West and North Africa.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇪 Ireland and 1 moreHandfastingceangal na lámh (Irish); pòsadh-bliadhna (Scottish Gaelic)
A pledge ceremony where a couple joins hands to make a binding marriage contract or engagement.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇱 IsraelErusinאירוסין
The first stage of a Jewish marriage that consecrates the bride to the groom.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 IndiaSakharpuda
The Maharashtrian engagement rite where sugar and coconuts seal a verbal promise between families.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United KingdomLuckenbooth brooch
A Scottish heart-shaped silver token of love and protection worn at weddings.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 Hawaii, United StatesCommon-law marriage in the United States
A legal union formed by mutual consent and public presentation without a license or ceremony.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreBridesmaid
A female attendant who supports the bride during a Western wedding ceremony.Family role · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇹 ItalyConfarreatio
The ancient Roman patrician marriage rite marked by sharing a sacred emmer cake.Rite · The ceremony
🇮🇱 Israel and 2 moreKetubahכְּתוּבָּה
The Jewish marriage contract that outlines the groom's financial and personal obligations to the bride.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 United KingdomPage boy
A young male member of the bridal party who manages the bride's train or carries the wedding rings.Family role · The ceremony
🇫🇷 Paris, FranceGlobe de mariée
A glass bell jar used in France to hold the bride's bouquet and preserve family memories.Adornment · The weeks before
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreWedding veil
A cloth covering the head or face worn by brides and grooms to mark marriage.Attire · The ceremony
🇮🇪 Galway, Ireland and 1 moreMarriage stone
A carved stone bearing the initials and date of a newly married couple, placed on a building to mark their union.Adornment · After the wedding
🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreLieberman clause
A ketubah provision for rabbinic arbitration to prevent a woman from being unable to remarry.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCommon-law marriage
A union recognized by law because a couple lives together as spouses, without a formal ceremony or license.Vow · After the wedding
🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaKandyan marriage
The traditional union rites of Sri Lanka's Buddhist Kandyan community, defined by residence and inheritance.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇹🇭 Thailand and 5 morePrenuptial agreement
A written contract signed before marriage to define property rights and financial outcomes.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreNose jewelNath
A nose piercing ornament that signals marital status and social standing in South Asia and beyond.Adornment · The weeks before
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Ketubah: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Page boy: Joe Cheng, CC BY 2.0, source
- Claddagh ring: Royalcladdagh, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wimpel: Wikipedia Loves Art participant " The_Grotto ", CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Globe de mariée: Alain Amet, CC BY 4.0, source
- Nikah: عامر شاہین, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Handfasting: Sander van der Wel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Luckenbooth brooch: Walker14806, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Prenuptial agreement: Jan Josef Horemans the Younger, Public domain, source
- Waist beads: Amuzujoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Las arras: penny, CC BY 2.0, source
- Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wedding cord: Phil! Gold, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Erusin: LGJMS, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Toe ring: Wikiss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wedding ring: CLW at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Engagement ring: Photo by Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Bridesmaid: Photographer not credited; relative or work for hire of relative., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wedding veil: David Ring, CC0, source
- Confarreatio: Agnete, CC BY 3.0, source
- Marriage stone: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source