Brought to India in the 16th century by the Mughals, the nose ring has evolved into a mature Indian tradition in its own right. Called by various names such as "Mukkuthi" in the south to "Nath" in the North, nose rings come in various shapes and sizes.
Over the last two or three decades nose rings have been becoming less and less common. In the southern part of India, it was common for women to wear nose studs on both nostrils. Today, only a small fraction of women wear nose rings and women with rings on both sides are rarer still.
I am pleasantly surprised to see a renewed interest in nose rings among the present generation. During the last year I have corresponded with numerous young women wearing nose rings, including many who adorn both nostrils and few who wear septum jewelry in addition. A few of these women have gracefully agreed to correspond on email about their nose piercing.
I also tried to put together a set of Frequently Asked Questions. Please drop me a note if you think of a question that should be added here.
My name is Prema. I am 55 years old and have been wearing nose studs on both nostrils for over 35 years. I have described my experience here.
Please email me with your comments and suggestions. If you would like to be featured on this site please do let me know.
