Why put engagement ring on the right hand finger?

In some Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic and Protestant countries such as Bulgaria, Russia, Greece, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Venezuela, and India, the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand.

In other countries, such as Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Slovenia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA and the UK, it is generally worn on the ring finger of the left hand, although right hand wearing is becoming more common. In Brazil, the ring is worn on the right hand until the actual wedding day, when it's exchanged to the left hand.

The ring is more noticeable on the right hand due to the traditional shaking of right hands in greeting; however it may be better protected from wear in the majority right-handed wearers by being on the left.

Several traditions exist in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies: most commonly today, the ring is placed on the index finger; but other traditions record placing it on the middle finger or the thumb.Today the ring usually is moved to the ring finger after the ceremony. Some Jewish grooms have adopted wearing a wedding ring.

A wedding ring is not a traditional part of the religious Muslim wedding; wedding rings are not included in most Islamic countries. However, if a wedding ring is worn in an Islamic country, it may be worn on either the left (such is the custom in Iran) or the right ring finger. As opposed to the wedding ring, use of a ring to denote betrothal or engagement is quite prevalent in Muslim countries, especially those in West and South Asia.

Rings are not traditional in an Indian wedding. However, in modern society it is becoming a practice to wear rings for engagements and not for actual marriage. Though the left hand is considered inauspicious for religious activities, a ring (not to be called wedding ring) is still worn on the left hand. Men generally wear the rings on the right hand and the women on the left hands.

In Sinhala and Tamil culture, the groom wears the wedding ring on his right hand and bride wears it on her left hand ring finger. This can be seen in countries like Sri Lanka where there is a richS inhala and Tamil cultural influence in the society.