Key Takeaways

• INSIGHT wrote to the school on Sunday claiming what the school had done was a breach of the Equality Act.
• This was, unfortunately, rejected by the pupil’s parents.
• The parents removed their son from the school last week.“The school claimed the tilak-chandlo wasn’t a mandatory practice in Hinduism.

Key Development 1

NewsWorld NewsUK NewsUK: Hindu parents remove son from London primary school in row over tilak-chandloTrendingWorld's safest cityIsrael warna IranBruce SpringsteenGreenland protestMinneapolis newsTrump letter to NorwayRussian winterWorld's safest cityIsrael warna IranBruce SpringsteenGreenland protestMinneapolis newsTrump letter to NorwayRussian winterWorld's safest cityIsrael warna IranBruce SpringsteenGreenland protestMinneapolis newsTrump letter to NorwayRussian winterUK: Hindu parents remove son from London primary school in row over tilak-chandloNAOMI CANTON / TNN / Jan 21, 2026, 01:25 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge TOI correspondent from London: A Hindu couple have removed their eight-year-old son from a London primary school saying he was discriminated against for his religion and challenged for wearing the tilak-chandlo.The boy was a pupil at Vicar’s Green Primary School in Alperton where staff told him the tilak-chandlo violated the uniform code, which does not allow “skin marks”, and he was reportedly asked to “explain and justify” his religious practice.He was allegedly removed from positions of responsibility within the school “solely because of his religious practice” and “monitored” during break times.

When Hindu parents made attempts to educate the headteacher and school governors, they “challenged and questioned Hindu practices, behaving as though they possessed a greater understanding of the faith”, a spokesperson for INSIGHT UK, an advocacy body for British Hindus, said.

We fully recognised the family’s religious beliefs and, in a spirit of conciliation, we offered a reasonable compromise by making an exception to our policy so the symbol could be worn on a less prominent part of the body.

We met with the parents of a pupil who was wearing a tilak-chandlo on their forehead to discuss the matter sensitively and sought to understand the reason for it.

Key Development 2

In our letter we have quoted from various Hindu scriptures pointing out it is an integral part of Hinduism, especially for certain sects,” the spokesperson said, adding calling the tilak-chandlo a “skin mark” was “deeply offensive.”Three Hindu siblings left the same school earlier because of religious discrimination, INSIGHT claimed.The school, for pupils aged three to 11, was judged outstanding by Ofsted in 2024.A school spokesperson said: “We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive school with pupils with more than 50 language backgrounds and a significant number who are Hindu.

INSIGHT wrote to the school on Sunday claiming what the school had done was a breach of the Equality Act.

This was, unfortunately, rejected by the pupil’s parents.

The parents removed their son from the school last week.“The school claimed the tilak-chandlo wasn’t a mandatory practice in Hinduism.

Key Development 3

Our longstanding school policy asks pupils not to wear visible skin markings, including religious ones.

We have always approached these discussions respectfully.”The Hindu Council UK is drafting a letter to a separate primary school in Kent where a Sikh girl is being threatened with exclusion for wearing a nose stud and a kada.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump's ULTIMATUM To EU On Greenland; Bessent Praises China, Tells US Allies To 'Take Deep Breaths'Khamenei Regime Vows War On Trump, Bibi For Fuelling Unrest In Iran; Cuts Off 40k Starlink TerminalsMacron EXPLODES At Trump’s ‘UNWANTED & CRAZY’ Greenland Threats After Leaked Chats | Watch4,500 Farmers Lay Siege To EU Parliament In France Against Trade Deal; 1,000+ Tractors Block StreetsICE ‘BEATS’ American Anger, Agents Arrest 10,000 Migrants In Minneapolis | Noem Drops BombshellPutin & Xi’s Fear, Golden Dome & Arctic Power Play | Trump’s Greenland Obsession DecodedChina Jibes 'BULLY' Trump, WOOS US Allies Amid Greenland Tensions; Warns, 'Don't Slide Back Into…'Trump Warns Against Escalation As EU Threatens To Dump US Treasuries Over Greenland CrisisTrump Escalates Global Tensions; Posts AI-Style Map Of Canada, Greenland & Venezuela Inside USTrump Rages At Americans Storming Minnesota Church, Attacks Tim Walz & Ilhan Omar | ‘Probe Them Now’123PhotostoriesHow to make Punjabi Lobia Masala for dinner at home‘Jana Nayagan’: Everything to know about trailer, posters, cast and more of Thalapathy Vijay’s starrer amid CBFC delayTop 10 countries with the highest government debtFrom Nimona to Samosa: 9 delicious local dishes made with Green Peas5 reasons you could be on the next layoff list of your companyBaby names as beautiful as a melody‘Sheila Ki Jawani’, ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’, ‘Baby Doll’: Bollywood item songs that broke the internet with their zany lyricsRanbir Kapoor's ‘Badtameez Dil’ to Nora Fatehi's 'Dilbar': Iconic dance steps from Bollywood songs everyone still tries to copyFrom Mrunal Thakur's 'Do Deewane Sehar Mein' to Preity Zinta's 'Kal Ho Naa Ho': Meet Bollywood's queens who won hearts with geeky looksFrom Smriti Irani to Amar Upadhyay: How much the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi star cast earns per episode123Hot PicksSilver price todayBudget 2026Karnataka DGP ScandalGold price predictionNitin NabinPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMatthew StaffordKyle Larson and Katelyn Sweet Net WorthKlay ThompsonElina Svitolina and Gael Monfils Net WorthShane Lowry Net WorthTom BradyPaul Scholes and Claire Froggatt Net WorthJohn Harbaughs WifeNHL TradeKelly PiquetTired of too many ads?go ad free nowTrending StoriesIn WorldEntire WebsiteGreenland PM asks residents to prepare for a possible invasion, says 'can't be ruled out'Collin, Dallas, not Calcutta, Delhi…: Texas candidate's poll promise is to deport H-1Bs, 'assimilate rest'From Red MAGA cap to mocking videos: Here's how Greenland responds to Donald Trump's threat'If I didn’t come along, there would be no …

': Trump takes credit as Europe bristles over GreenlandLet's buy California from Trump: Danish satire petition collects signatures to counter US' Greenland move‘Did his wife sock him again?’: Why Emmanuel Macron wore sunglasses at DavosWhat is the 25th Amendment—and why Trump’s Norway letter is reviving it'We’re here to arrest a child sex offender': ICE officer confronts reporter in viral video — watch'Don't fight, don't resist': Immigration attorney explains if ICE agents can pull you out of your carHow Trump's leadership style compares to Obama, Reagan, or NixonKobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant melts hearts with emotional birthday tribute to daughter Natalia while honoring the late NBA legendMatthew Stafford’s wife and four daughters wow Chicago crowds with synchronized Rams fashion flairMiami Heat vs Sacramento Kings (01-20-2026) game preview: When and where to watch, expected lineup, injury report, prediction, and morePhoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers injury report: Injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (January 20, 2026)Dan Lanning is on high alert after Lane Kiffin’s bold push for Jordan Seaton shakes transfer raceShane Lowry’s net worth: The relentless rise of Ireland’s major championPaul Scholes and Claire Froggatt combined net worth: Old Trafford success, contract details, lifestyle, and moreTom Brady’s stunned reaction to Fernando Mendoza captures Raiders’ growing interest amid early draft talkNHL Trade Buzz: Insiders speculate Detroit Red Wings to target New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin50 Maggi packets, 20kg rice, veggies, LPG cylinders: JeM’s winter bunker unearthed during Kishtwar encounter; terrorists stocked up for monthsTired of too many ads?go ad free nowDaily PuzzlesConnectThe Perfect TracePlay Now Loop the LoopPuzzle CircuitPlay Now Location GuesserGuess the SpotPlay Now Explore More Puzzles

What are your thoughts on this development? Share your opinion in the comments.