Nose Piercing in India
Though nose piercing didn’t originate in India, it was brought to the country in the 16th Century from the Middle East by the Moghul emperors. In India a stud called Phul or a ring known as Nath is usually worn in the left nostril, it’s sometimes joined to the ear by a chain, and in some places both nostrils are pierced.
Nose rings seem to be associated with the Hindu religion itself as they are worn by Hindu women more than by women of any other religion in India. However, Muslim women do also wear nose rings.
Women’s Take on Nose Piercing
Westerners might suspect that the art of nose piercing created a major difference between the natives of the South Pacific and the explorers/traders who landed there. Still, the fact that some natives had pierced noses, while none of the western visitors wore such adornments, might not have been the primary difference between the island natives and the white-skinned arrivals. The gender composition of the arriving party might have overshadowed the fact that no one in that party had any knowledge of nose piercing.
Self Expression
Nose piercing has been a form of body art, or body decoration, for thousands of years. Although traditionally practiced by ancient peoples and native cultures, nose piercing has been adopted by today’s young people wishing to express themselves to their friends, family, and the world. The traditional cultures that practiced the art of nose piercing, and still do to this day include those in Africa, Asia, and India. It is common to see nose piercing among people of these cultures today. It is also common to see nose piercing among young alternative and “punk rock” individuals as well.
