In many Indian homes, a girl gets her first pair of silver payal long before she can choose jewellery for herself. The soft jingle of anklets is part of weddings, festivals and everyday life. If you are looking up the benefits of wearing silver anklets, you will find a mix of tradition, astrology, Ayurveda and style. This guide explains what each one says, why anklets are almost always silver rather than gold, and how to choose a pair you will actually wear.
Why Are Anklets Made of Silver and Not Gold?
This is the first question most people ask. In Hindu tradition, gold is associated with Goddess Lakshmi, so many families do not wear it on the feet out of respect. Silver is considered suitable for the lower body. Ayurveda gives a second reason: gold is thought of as "warming" and silver as "cooling", and the cooling metal is preferred for the feet, which are said to need grounding energy. Whatever you believe, the custom is strong enough that silver is still the default metal for payal and bichiya (toe rings) across most of India.
Benefits of Wearing Silver Anklets
Here are the benefits people most often talk about, grouped by where the idea comes from.
1. Tradition and marriage
For married women in many communities, silver payal and bichiya are part of shringar, the traditional adornment of a bride. They are often gifted by the in-laws or the bride's family and worn every day after the wedding. For many women, this is the most important "benefit": the anklet carries family and cultural meaning.
2. Ayurvedic beliefs
In Ayurveda, silver is cooling and is said to balance pitta. Traditional texts and practitioners link silver anklets with:
- Less swelling and tiredness in the feet and legs
- Better circulation, thanks to constant light contact with points around the ankle
- Support for women's reproductive health, since points near the ankle are linked to the uterus in reflexology and acupressure
- Calmer moods and better sleep
These ideas come from traditional medicine and reflexology, and they have not been confirmed by clinical research. Silver anklets are not a treatment, so anyone with swelling, pain or menstrual problems should see a doctor.
3. Spiritual benefits of wearing silver anklets
Many people believe the sound of ghungroo bells on a payal keeps negative energy away from the home. In older households, the sound also simply let family members know someone was moving around the house. Silver is also seen as a pure metal, so it is linked with keeping the wearer's energy clean and grounded through contact with the earth.
4. Silver anklet benefits in astrology
Vedic astrology connects silver with the Moon, which rules emotions and the mind, and with Venus, which rules beauty, love and comfort. Astrologers commonly say wearing silver on the feet:
- Strengthens a weak Moon, bringing emotional stability
- Supports harmony in marriage and family life through Venus
- Reduces the effect of Rahu and Ketu during difficult periods
Astrological advice depends on the individual birth chart, so treat these as general beliefs and speak with your own astrologer before wearing anything for a specific purpose.
5. Style and confidence
This one needs no faith at all. A delicate anklet draws attention to the feet and works with sarees, lehengas, salwar suits and jeans or a summer dress. Thin chain anklets are part of modern fashion worldwide, not only Indian traditional wear.
Benefits of Wearing Silver Anklets for Women
Most of the beliefs above are specifically about women. To sum up what tradition says for women:
- Married women: a sign of marriage, with beliefs around marital harmony and protection
- Women's health (traditional view): believed to support the menstrual cycle and the reproductive system through ankle pressure points
- Daily comfort: believed to reduce tired, swollen feet after long hours standing
- Girls: often given as a blessing and for the sound, so parents can hear a small child moving around
Men in some communities also wear silver kadas or chains on the ankle, though it is much less common. Men looking for silver's traditional benefits usually wear it on the wrist instead. Our article on silver kada benefits covers that.
Types of Anklets
Anklets come in more styles than people expect. These are the main types you will see in shops:
- Traditional payal. A broad chain or band with ghungroo bells hanging along it. Heavier pieces are worn at weddings.
- Pajeb. A wider, more ornate payal, often with layered chains and engraved motifs.
- Chain anklet. A thin, plain chain. Good for daily wear and western clothes.
- Beaded anklet. Silver beads or coloured stones strung on a chain.
- Charm anklet. A chain with one or two small charms such as a heart, evil eye, star or initial.
- Kada (solid anklet). A rigid ring around the ankle, traditional in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Usually heavy.
- Toe-ring anklet (barefoot sandal). A chain that connects the anklet to a toe ring across the top of the foot.
- Black thread anklet with silver. A black thread with silver beads, worn to ward off the evil eye.
How to Choose a Silver Anklet
Check the purity
Many cheap "silver" anklets are actually German silver, an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc that contains no silver at all. Nickel can irritate skin, especially on sweaty feet. Look for 925 or a BIS hallmark, and read our guide on 925 silver vs sterling silver before you buy.
Get the length right
Measure around the ankle bone and add about 2 to 3 cm so the anklet moves freely without slipping over the heel. Many anklets have an extender chain for adjusting.
Think about daily life
Heavy payal with many bells are lovely for functions but noisy at the office and can snag on fabric. A thin chain anklet is easier to wear every day.
Wear one or two?
Traditional payal are worn as a pair. In modern fashion, a single anklet is common, and there is no fixed rule about which foot. Some astrologers have preferences, so ask if that matters to you.
Caring for Silver Anklets
Anklets get more dirt, water and sweat than any other jewellery, so they tarnish faster. Rinse them after a dusty day, dry them fully, and clean them every couple of weeks. Our step-by-step guide on how to clean silver anklets at home covers soap, baking soda and the aluminium foil method.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of wearing silver anklets?
Traditionally, silver anklets are believed to balance body heat, reduce tiredness in the legs, support women's health and calm the mind, and in astrology they are linked to the Moon and Venus. They also carry cultural meaning for married women and are a simple, attractive accessory. The health claims come from tradition, not clinical research.
Can we wear gold anklets?
You can. Many Hindu families avoid gold on the feet out of respect for Goddess Lakshmi. Other cultures have no such custom.
Can unmarried girls wear silver anklets?
Yes. Girls of all ages wear payal in India. Toe rings are the item more closely linked to marriage.
Is it okay to wear silver anklets every day?
Yes, as long as the anklet fits comfortably and you clean it regularly. Lighter designs are best for daily wear.
Silver anklets are a small piece of jewellery with a lot of meaning behind them: tradition, faith, and simply looking good. Pick solid silver, choose a weight you will be comfortable in, and wear them the way your family does or however you like. If you want matching pieces, the silver rings for women and silver earrings for women collections pair well with a pair of payal. You can also read about the benefits of wearing a silver ring or the benefits of a silver chain.