Today
we are celebrating 68th anniversary of our National Flag.The
tricolour was adopted as India's national flag on July 22, 1947. The Indian National Flag symbolises national
pride and is one of the most respectable national symbols. It is popularly known
as Tiranga which means "three colours". It represents India's long
struggle for freedom and is a national treasure. It signifies the status of
India as an independent republic. It was designed by PINGALI VENKAYYA. It is
horizontal tricolour, in equal proportion of deep saffron at the top, white in
the middle and green at the bottom. The ratio of the width to the length of the
flag is 2:3. At the center of the white band, is a wheel with 24 spokes in navy
blue colour that indicates the Dharma Chakra (the wheel of law). It was taken from the Lion capital
of Ashoka. The Lion capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four "Indian
lions" standing back to back that was originally placed atop the Aśhoka
pillar at Sarnath by Emperor Ashoka.
The
three colours signify :
Saffron stands for
renunciation, disinterestedness, courage and sacrifice
White symbolizes truth, peace
and purity
Green
represents prosperity, vibrance and life.
The Ashok Chakra (wheel)
represents the righteousness, progress and perpetuity. The 24 spokes of the
wheel represents the 24 hours of a day .
Certain
Code of Conduct are
to be followed for the national flag:
· When the National Flag is raised the saffron colour band
should be at the top.
· No flag or emblem should be placed either above the
National Flag or to its right.
· All other flags to be placed to the left of the National
Flag if they are hung in a line.
· When the National Flag is carried out in a procession or parade,
it shall be on the marching right or in front of the center of the line, if
there is a line of other flags.
· Normally the National Flag should be flown over important
government buildings like the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Parliament House, the Supreme
Court of India, the High Courts, the Secretariats, the Commissioners' office
etc.
· The National Flag or any imitation of it must not be used
for purpose of trade, business, or profession.
· The National Flag should always be taken down in the evening
at sunset
The late
Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
called it "a flag not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of
freedom to all people."
