“Who eats dates on Pongal?” “They got confused with Ramzan”: Lenskart under fire again as viral ad sparks backlash

Lenskart is once again trending across social media platforms, with conversations around the brand picking up pace. Over the past few days, the company has been under public attention, and now a new issue has added to the discussion. After facing criticism over an alleged internal policy, the focus has shifted to one of its festive campaigns. A Pongal-themed advertisement by the brand is now being questioned by many users online.

The debate did not take long to grow. What started as one reaction soon turned into a wider conversation, with people sharing their views on how the festival has been shown.

The moment that sparked the row

The latest discussion began after Krithika Sivaswami posted her reaction to the advertisement. She raised questions about the choices made in the campaign and wrote, “Who the heck eats dates for Pongal? And what's with the costume & props?”

Her comment quickly gained traction, leading to more users joining the conversation.

Social media users share strong views

As the post spread, several users expressed concern about the portrayal of Pongal. Many felt that the visuals, food, and overall presentation did not match traditional celebrations.

One user wrote, “It’s already clear from their internal policy document, it clearly shows their alignment. Don’t get shocked when their models are having non veg on Diwali ads. Is this question even logical? It is very clear from their act what they are trying to do. Simple.”

Another user said, “We as a hindu society must give up this nonsense called tolerance, and must not accept any vile thing. Every now n then there r sm bastards doing dilution, mockery n abuse. Did this company not know that pongal is hindu festival? Showing this distasteful, colourless, lifeless way.” [sic]

Food became a key point in the discussion. One user wrote, “very basic Pongal lunch: there are 100 side dishes. Hindus don’t eat dates on any festival because our land is blessed with an abundance of food grains, dairy and spices; hence, the unlimited cuisine.”

Another reaction read, “They got confused with Ramzan. Seriously, every self-respecting Hindu must ensure that we never buy anything from Lenskart. “#BoycottLenskart.”

One more comment added, “Ramadan celebration gone wrong.”

Some users also pointed out styling elements. One comment read, “Where is the bindhi ? No bindhi No business.”

Earlier controversy still fresh

This situation comes soon after another issue involving the company’s alleged internal dress code. The topic gained attention after political commentator Shefali Vaidya shared claims about it on X.

She wrote, “So I confirmed, this is genuine. This is what @peyushbansal tells his employees, hijab is okay, but bindi/tilak/Kalawa is not, for @Lenskart_com, a company that exists in Hindu majority Bharat, where most of the employees and consumers are Hindu!”

Company issues clarification

Responding to the criticism, Lenskart co-founder Peyush Bansal said that the document being circulated online was outdated and not a reflection of current policies.

“I’ve been seeing an inaccurate policy document going viral about Lenskart. I want to speak directly that this document does not reflect our present guidelines. Our policy has no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak, and we continue to review our guidelines regularly,” he said.

He further added, “Our grooming policy has evolved over the years and outdated versions do not represent who we are today. We apologize for the confusion and concern this situation has caused. We as a company, continue to learn and build. Any lapses in our language or policies have and will continue to be addressed.”

He also spoke about the company’s identity, saying, “We have thousands of team members across Bharat who wear their faith and culture proudly every day at our stores. They are Lenskart. Lenskart was built in Bharat, by Indians, for Indians. Every symbol and every tradition our people carry is a part of who we are as a company. I will never let that be compromised.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on social media posts, user reactions, and statements shared online. The claims made by individuals have not been independently verified by The Times of India. Lenskart’s response has been included as issued on its official platform. Thumb image: X