Following a controversy surrounding the wearing of bindis and tilaks, eyewear retail company Lenskart has issued a new, standardized in-store style guide for its employees. The company has clarified that it grants its employees full permission to work while wearing religious and cultural symbols. The new guidelines explicitly embrace a wide range of symbols, including bindis, tilaks, sindoor, kalavas, mangalsutras, kadas, hijabs, and turbans.
In a statement released on April 18, the company stated, “We have heard you—clearly and with an open heart. Over the past few days, our customers and the community have voiced their opinions, and we have listened to them with great seriousness. Today, we are sharing our in-store style guide in a public and transparent manner.”
Lenskart emphasized that these symbols are not merely exceptions but constitute an integral part of the company’s identity. According to the company, Lenskart is “Made in India, Made by Indians, and Made for Indians.” “Our network of over 2,400 stores is operated by individuals who come to work every day, bringing their faith, traditions, and identities with them. This is not something we would ever ask anyone to leave at the door.”
The company also expressed its deep regret if any past workplace communication or internal document led employees to feel that their faith was not welcome there. The statement read, “If any of our communications hurt an employee’s sentiments, or led them to feel that their religious identity was not accepted here, we deeply regret it. This does not reflect Lenskart’s identity, nor will it ever.”
The company gave an assurance that these core values would now be incorporated into every policy, training module, and official communication. Furthermore, it pledged to implement these guidelines fairly and consistently, as well as to review and refine them periodically.
Peyush Bansal Issues Clarification
Earlier, on April 16, Peyush Bansal issued a clarification on the social media platform X, stating that the document circulating online was an outdated internal training document, and not the company’s official HR policy. He stated that the document in question contained an erroneous line regarding bindis and tilaks—a line that should never have been written in the first place. It does not reflect our mindset, values, or actual operational practices.
Peyush Bansal explained that as soon as the company became aware of the matter on February 17, 2026, the offending content was immediately removed; in other words, corrective action was taken before the issue could escalate into a public controversy.
He added, “However, I should have caught this sooner. As the Founder and CEO, the responsibility for such an oversight lies with me. I have instructed my team to conduct a rigorous review of all such materials in the future, and I will personally oversee this process.”
No Ban on Religious Expression
Peyush Bansal categorically stated that Lenskart would never place restrictions on respectful religious expression. He affirmed that there are—and never will be—any bans on bindis, tilaks, or any other symbols of faith. Our employees have always been, and will continue to be, free to express their beliefs with pride.
He also extended his gratitude to everyone who raised this issue, noting that the voice of the people helps the company improve and remain true to its core values.
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