Cultural Body Modification: Nose plugs of Apatani women

Body modification is nothing new in the world of aesthetics and individuality. But it has been in existence since time past and it can be seen in Apatani women. The Apatani women are known for sporting bizarre nose plugs.

The Apatani tribe lives in the Ziro valley in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India's northeast. Apatani women were considered the most beautiful among the Arunachal tribes; so beautiful, in fact, that they had to make themselves look unattractive as protection from invaders from other tribes.
Hence, Apatani women wore large wooden plugs in their noses, a tradition not carried forward by the younger members of the 26,000 people- strong tribe today.