As you know, India has long been a colony of England. In the distant past, the British "Jack" proudly flew over the country. Then, during the years of independence, the flag of the Republic of India was approved . From 1947 to the present, it has been used in the state, and the term "tricolor" for the country's inhabitants means precisely the national banner.
Key colors
The basis of the palette was invented by Pingali Venkaya for the National Indian Congress. It consists of three horizontal strips, equally wide: “deep saffron” at the top, white - in the middle, lower - bright green color. In the center is a wheel with spokes ("Ashoka Chakra"), the color of the picture is dark blue. The modern flag of India is rectangular, the ratio of length to width is three to two. It is also used for military purposes in the army. The specification requires that the cloth be made only from the “hadi” material - homespun fabric that has become popular thanks to Gandhi. Even at the initiative of Mahatma, a drawing of a spinning wheel was applied for some time on the banner, but then it was removed. There is an image of a chakra wheel that symbolizes movement.
Flag of India - Meaning
The modern multiconfessional state avoids the religious interpretation of “tricolor”. Colors are revealed as symbols of fertility, strength, peace. Previously, they symbolized various religious communities of the state. So initially they were interpreted by the authors of the flag themselves, as well as the spiritual leader - Gandhi (but he soon became inclined to a more neutral understanding). It is interesting that before the spinning wheel, the supreme god Ganesha and even Mother Cow were considered candidates for the image on the flag of India, but they did not pass the competition. For some time, the star was attended by a star crescent - a symbol of Islam. The chakra wheel, pictured there today, has 24 spokes and is approximately equal in diameter to the width of the middle - white - strip.
Now saffron at the top means the courage and strength of the country, white in the middle - peace and truth, green - growth, favorable conditions, fertility. Due to the very soft shades of saffron and green, the flag of India in various interpretations is sometimes reproduced incorrectly. Here is an image from a government site showing the true shades of colors: the flag of India - the photo in front of you. Here is what its correct image is.
Gandhi
The banner of the country is a conscious necessity, freedom, for which many people laid their heads. Because it is a realized ideal, which is one of the images of a great country. It is necessary for all those to whom India is their native home to recognize a single flag, live and, possibly, die for it. So said the great Gandhi.
Evolution and history
The flag of India (national) has undergone some changes in its form from the day it first appeared in 1906 in Calcutta. Then the cloth also consisted of three stripes, but other colors: red, yellow, green.
The next one was already raised in Paris by Mrs. Kama and her associates - exiled revolutionaries in 1907. The colors are the same as the first, but on the upper strip were seven stars, which meant the seven sages - the sons of Brahma. According to their names, the main luminaries of the
constellation Ursa Major are also called in Indian astronomy
. Saptarishes are considered in mythology to be the creators of the existing universe and the ancestors of all living today.
There was also a flag with lotuses in 1906 (officially recognized flower in India). He was with a crescent moon (a sign of Islam, but in Hinduism it symbolizes a cold mind and a "vessel with immortality nectar"). There was a banner with the image of the sun and the motto “Wanda Mataram” (respect for mothers). Today it is the official symbol of the city of Calcutta. Also, the cloth with the British “Jack” in the corner - in 1917, with the “Gandhi spinning wheel” - in 1921, with the spinning wheel, but with the colors that now exist, in 1931. This year is considered a turning point in the history of the Indian symbol of statehood (see the flag of India above - photo), and then the spinning wheel symbolized the progress and development of the country. Then it was replaced by a chakra wheel.
Coat of arms and flag of India
But the emblem of the state is the four lions, standing back to back on an abacus. The fourth, however, is not visible from behind the comrades! This is also related to the history of Buddhism: the "lion capital" was established in Sarnath by Emperor Ashoka, thereby marking the area where Gautama taught the Dharma teachings for the first time. The image of this particular sculpture was declared the National Indian Emblem (coat of arms) in 1950, when India became a republic.
So, on the coat of arms there are four Indian lions on a circular pedestal. On the abacus there are images of four animals - symbols of directions: elephant - east, lion - north, bull - west, horse - south (only the horse and elephant are visible). Below is a lotus that symbolizes the source of life. Even lower is the motto for Devanagari: “Only Truth conquers!” This is a quote from the ancient Vedas. And the entire emblem symbolizes courage, prudence, the fortitude of the Indian nation.
It remains to add that in the country there are quite strict rules in relation to state symbols collected in the Code. The flag should not be used as clothing or drapery. He cannot intentionally touch water or land. It is forbidden to throw a cloth over vehicles. "Tricolor" cannot be used as a garland. It should fly from sunrise to sunset, regardless of the weather.