NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo warns schools against restricting mehndi, rakhis

NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo has asked schools not to stop Hindu children from applying mehndi or tying rakhis during Raksha Bandhan. He said these practices are part of religious freedom and warned of action if complaints are received.Priyank Kanoongo, Member of the National Human Rights Commission, has urged schools not to prevent Hindu children from applying mehndi or tying rakhis during Raksha Bandhan.Priyank Kanoongo, Member of the National Human Rights Commission, has urged schools not to prevent Hindu children from applying mehndi or tying rakhis during Raksha Bandhan, saying such practices are part of Hindu tradition and religious freedom.In a post on X, Kanoongo said mehndi washes off within two to four days and rakhis can also be removed, adding that neither practice disrupts school discipline or affects the dress code.He urged school administrators and managements not to obstruct what he described as the religious freedom rights of Hindu children because of their religious or faith-based choices, warning that action could be taken in case of complaints. Priyank Kanoongo on X In a Hindi video accompanying the post, Kanoongo shared a photograph of his daughter with mehndi on her hands and said applying mehndi, wearing bangles and tying rakhis during the monsoon festive season are Hindu traditions. He said children should be allowed to learn and follow these traditions, adding that some schools object to students wearing rakhis or applying mehndi due to religious reasons.Calling it a basic right of children, Kanoongo said applying mehndi for a few days or tying a rakhi does not harm a school's discipline or traditions. He appealed to schools not to trouble children and warned of strict action if complaints were received. He also invited parents facing such issues to submit complaints through his official contact.- EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Aug 29, 2026 01:33 IST