Nose piercing is part of Indian Traditions

Indo-Americans critical of Illinois’ Evergreen Park High School’s policy on nose piercing ban.

Indo-Americans are critical of reported nose piercing banning policy of Evergreen Park Community High School District 231 (Illinois), saying it may be unfair to female students of India descent.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), said that nose piercing and nose ornaments had been a tradition of women of India for centuries and the Hindu goddesses had been depicted wearing nose ornaments.

Nose piercing is part of Indian Traditions

Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation in USA, argued that it was denying the right to students of India background to express their religio-cultural identity. Dress code should be accordingly amended to show sensitivity to religio-cultural beliefs of students of India descent.

Rajan Zed added that they respected the school dress code policy as long as it did not violate the traditions and beliefs of the pupils. Noses of girls in India were usually pierced around puberty and it reportedly found mention in ancient Ayurvedic text. Old architecture and paintings of India depicted the presence of tradition of nose ornaments and Indian poets had been singing their praise, Zed added.

Evergreen Park Community High School District 231 southwest of Chicago, whose history goes back to 1954, serves the residents of the Village of Evergreen Park. Average class size is 19.5 and traditionally more than 88% of the graduates attend college. It offers 18 sports, 16 clubs, theater, and numerous leadership opportunities. Dr. Beth Hart, Bill Sanderson, and John McGuire are Superintendent, Principal and Discipline Director respectively of High School District, whose mission is to provide “educational opportunities that promote lifelong learning, personal development, and an appreciation of diversity”.

The Village of Evergreen Park, surrounded by Chicago on three sides, is the “small town” connected to the “big city” which takes “great pride in the green space”. James J. Sexton is the Mayor of Evergreen Park.

[adrotate banner=”33″]