Toe ring

In the Ramayana, there is a mention of Sita, on being abducted by Ravana, throwing her toe ring down so that lord Rama could find her.

[1] It is worn as a symbol of the married state by Hindu women [2] and is called bichiya (pronounced: bee-chee-ya) in Hindi, minji (മിഞ്ചി) or kaalmothiram (കാൽമോതിരം) in Malayalam, Pāda Jhuṇtikā (ପାଦ ଝୁଣ୍ଟିକା) in Odia language, jodavi (जोडवी) in Marathi, Mettelu (మెట్టెలు) in Telugu, Angot (আঙট/আংট্; pronounced: aa-nng-ot) in Bengali, Metti/Kanaiyazhi in Tamil (மெட்டி/கணையாழி), Kaalungura (ಕಾಲುಂಗುರಗಳು) in Kannada.

The practice of Tamil men wearing toe rings/Metti had a use in ancient times when people used to walk around barefoot.

Traditionally, a large ring was worn on the great toe of the left foot to indicate a married status.

Some men frequently wore a ring on the big toe for curative purposes or to augment their masculine vigor.

[6] Toe rings were introduced to the United States by Marjorie Borell who, after returning from India began manufacturing and selling them in New York in 1973.

She eventually sold them in Bloomingdale's and many other retail outlets but because her designs could not be patented, she moved on to other ventures but retains the title of Toe Ring Lady to this day.

Toe rings can be found at many state fair booths and beach town shops around the country.