Wear Hijab-Turban, but do not apply Tilak, Kalava and Sindoor! There is an uproar on social media over Lenskart’s dress code, demand for boycott

Maharashtra: A heated debate has erupted on social media regarding the new style guide made for the employees of Lenskart company. Film director and social activist Ashok Pandit has criticized this guide and appealed to boycott the company’s products. He said the company is allowing hijab and turban, but is banning traditional marks of Hindu employees like tilak, bindi, kalava and sindoor.

What is written in the style guide?

Ashok Pandit shared the 11th page of the style guide on Instagram. It is clearly written in it that wearing hijab is allowed, but its color should be black. Hijab should have medium chest coverage and should not cover the company logo. Turban can also be worn only in black colour.

At the same time, applying religious tilak, tilak, bindi or any sticker is completely prohibited. There is also a ban on applying henna. Even on special occasions, it can be imposed only for 10 days after the permission of the management.

The company has also made other rules, such as not wearing any cap or hat, keeping a blue torch and spray bottle at the store, wearing a hair net when the hair is messy and wearing a black fitted T-shirt to hide tattoos.

Anger on social media

Ashok Pandit raised questions on the company’s founder Piyush Bansal and said that in Hindu majority India, most of the employees and customers are Hindus. Still why is the company banning Hindu symbols? He called it insensitive towards Hindu sentiments.

Writer Shefali Vaidya also confirmed that this policy is correct by sharing the screenshot. He wrote that the company considers hijab okay, but does not allow bindi, tilak and kalava. Users like Jitendra Pratap Singh called it ‘corporate jihad’.

He said that after TCS, now Lenskart is also in controversy, where hijab and turban are allowed but kalava, bindi and sindoor should not be visible.

Boycott appeal on the company

Ashok Pandit has appealed to the people to boycott Lenskart products. Users on social media are constantly asking questions as to why the company adopts double standards with religious symbols in a Hindu majority country. Many people called it a move that hurt the sentiments of Hindu employees.