Hijab Allowed, Tilak-Bindi Banned? Why IndiGo Is Facing ‘Double Standard’ Allegations On Social Media

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 21:26 IST

As screenshots of IndiGo's grooming manual go viral, X users are calling for a "total boycott" of the airline

Following the viral fallout at Lenskart and Air India, IndiGo is the latest major brand to face a “Hindu symbols vs. corporate policy" controversy.

The controversy exploded after X user @AnuDagar shared snippets of what appear to be IndiGo’s official grooming handbooks. Documents titled “MALE POISE.pdf" and “FEMALE POISE.pdf" appear to explicitly ban items like Tilak, Sindoor, Mangalsutra, and Kalawa, while other religious markers reportedly remain accommodated.

The comments on X called for a boycott of the airline. Some users took a darker tone, reminding the airline of the volatility of the aviation market. One viral comment warned, “There was a time when Jet Airways was flying a lot… let’s hope in a few years you don’t end up becoming the next Jet Airways."

Another wrote, “@IndiGo6E not done !! Withdraw this diktat immd !!" Many others demanded for a proper and official government policy for corporates. “i think all these are perfect examples for govt. to bring in a code of conduct manual for all the corporates…Legal cases against them will help them avoid ESG trap," wrote one user.

The current wave of scrutiny began earlier this month when an internal “In-Store Style Guide" from Lenskart went viral. The document sparked widespread outrage for allegedly creating a “religious asymmetry" by permitting hijabs and turbans while explicitly flagging bindis, tilaks, and kalawas as “not allowed." Despite CEO Peyush Bansal issuing a public apology and clarifying that the viral document was an “outdated training note" from February 2026, the brand faced intense boycott calls and even physical protests in cities like Dehradun and Pune. Lenskart has since released a revised policy that “explicitly and unambiguously" welcomes all symbols of faith.

News viral Hijab Allowed, Tilak-Bindi Banned? Why IndiGo Is Facing ‘Double Standard’ Allegations On Social Media

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