<P> Nostril piercing is a body piercing practice for the purpose of wearing jewelry, much like nose piercing, which is most primarily and prominently associated with Indian culture and fashion since classical times, and found commonly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Philippines and throughout South and even Southeast Asia . Nostril piercing is also part of traditional Australian Aboriginal culture . and the culture of the Ilocano, a Muslim tribe in the Philippines . With the diffusion, exposure and spread of Indian fashion and culture, nostril piercing has in recent decades become popular in the wider world, as have other forms of body piercing, after punks and subsequent youth cultures in the' 80s and' 90s adopted this sort of piercing . Today, nostril piercing is popular in the wider world including South America, United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, Africa, Japan and Europe, with piercings being performed on either the left or right nostril . </P> <P> Historically in the Indian Subcontinent, nose piercings are done by women only . However the spread of this fashion has resulted in both men and women having nostril piercings in the wider world . Several different types of nostril rings are found . Among the most popular are the loop, the stud with an L - bar closure, the stud with a ball closure, and the stud with a flat backing . </P> <P> In India the outside of the left part of the body (?) is the preferred position of the piercing . This is followed by some orthodox folk also because Ayurvedic medicine associates this location with the female reproductive organs . In India, like any other jewelry, piercings and the jewelry are regarded as a mark of beauty and social standing as well as a Hindu's honor to Parvati, the goddess of marriage . Nose piercing is still popular in India and the subcontinent . The piercings are often an integral part of Indian wedding jewelry . In Maharashtra women wear very large intricate nose pieces that often cover the mouth or the side of the face . </P> <P> It is very common in Bengali women . Pashtun and Pahari women commonly have both nostrils pierced . Many South Indian Tamil also follow this old tradition . Numerous traditions are associated with it . Many women from the Asian subcontinent are cremated with just their nose studs as jewelry is removed before the funeral . Indian widows usually remove their nose studs as a sign of respect . Nose piercing has historically been strictly forbidden among many families of Kashmiris belonging to Butt, Dar, Lone and Mir castes settled in Pakistan as their ancestors associated nose piercing with people of menial descent in ancient Kashmiri society . </P>

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