The child’s parents, along with other Hindu parents at the school, reportedly made repeated efforts to engage with the headteacher and school governors to explain the religious significance of Hindu practices, including the Tilak-Chandlo. An eight-year-old Hindu student was forced to change schools in London after allegedly facing discrimination for wearing a Tilak-Chandlo, a sacred Hindu symbol applied on the forehead. According to a NDTV report, the incident occurred at Vicar’s Green Primary School, where the child was reportedly questioned about and asked to justify his religious practice. Parents’ efforts to engage with schoolThe child’s parents, along with other Hindu parents at the school, reportedly made repeated efforts to engage with the headteacher and school governors to explain the religious significance of Hindu practices, including the Tilak-Chandlo. This action, if established, would amount to direct religious discrimination under the UK’s Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of religion.

Source: dna January 20, 2026 11:21 UTC