🇮🇳 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
🇮🇳 IndiaShankha
White conch shell bangles worn by Bengali Hindu married women as a symbol of their husband's well-being.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 Kochi, IndiaKasavuകസാവ്
The white cotton and gold border attire worn by Malayalis for weddings and festivals.Attire · The weeks before
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreToe ring
A silver band worn on the second toe to mark a woman as married in India.Adornment · The ceremony
🇮🇳 IndiaSakharpuda
The Maharashtrian engagement rite where sugar and coconuts seal a verbal promise between families.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 IndiaVaramalaवरमाला (Varamālā)
The exchange of flower garlands that marks mutual acceptance in a Hindu wedding.Rite · The ceremony
🇮🇳 IndiaOdia Hindu weddingBahaghara (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବାହାଘର)
The traditional Hindu marriage ceremony of the Odia people in Odisha, India.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 IndiaMeitei weddingLuhongba (ꯂꯨꯍꯣꯡꯕ)
The traditional union of the Meitei people, marked by clan exogamy and specific courtship rituals.Rite · Finding a match
🇮🇳 IndiaTelugu Hindu weddingతెలుగు వివాహ వేడుక
A multi-day Telugu Hindu marriage marked by seven vows around fire and family rituals.Rite · Finding a match
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreMangalsutraमङ्गलसूत्रम् (maṅgalasūtram)
The sacred necklace tied around the bride's neck to mark her marriage.Adornment · The ceremony
🇮🇳 IndiaZoroastrian wedding
A Zoroastrian marriage ceremony featuring hand-fastening, rice sprinkling, and shared meals.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 Delhi, India and 4 moreSindoorसिंदूर (Hindi)
The vermilion powder a Hindu husband applies to his wife's hair parting to mark her marriage.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreWedding veil
A cloth covering the head or face worn by brides and grooms to mark marriage.Attire · The ceremony
🇮🇳 IndiaDejhoor
A hexagonal ear ornament worn by Kashmiri Pandit women to mark their marriage.Adornment · The eve
🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaKandyan marriage
The traditional union rites of Sri Lanka's Buddhist Kandyan community, defined by residence and inheritance.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 Firozabad, India and 1 moreBangle
A rigid circular bracelet worn by women in South Asia and beyond, often marking marital status or festive occasions.Adornment · The ceremony
🇮🇳 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.
- Claddagh ring: Royalcladdagh, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shankha: Salil Kumar Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Varamala: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bangle: schwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Las arras: penny, CC BY 2.0, source
- Wedding cord: Phil! Gold, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Odia Hindu wedding: Aditya Mahar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Handfasting: Sander van der Wel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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
- Sindoor: Masum-al-hasan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Meitei wedding: Dabu Leichombam, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wedding veil: David Ring, CC0, source
- Dejhoor: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Mangalsutra: Ackroydman, CC BY-SA 3.0, source