The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign kicked off across the country today to mark 75th year of independence and encourage people to hoist national flag at their homes under the initiative Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The government has urged people to hoist or display the tricolour at their homes from August 13 to 15 to celebrate the glorious milestone of India's independence.
What’s the aim behind this campaign?
The campaign is aimed at making the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional. The idea is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and promote awareness about the tricolour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been encouraging the citizens of the country to hoist the national flag at their homes and also use 'tiranga' as their profile picture on social media.
While addressing a rally in Surat, Gujarat through video conferencing Wednesday the PM said, From August 13 to 15, the Tricolour will be hoisted in every house of India. People from every section of society, every caste and creed are spontaneously joining with only one identity. This is the identity of the conscientious citizen of India," reported ANI.
Earlier, Indian citizens were not allowed to hoist the National Flag except on selected occasions. This changed after a decade-long legal battle by industrialist Naveen Jindal. The Supreme Court in its judgement of January 23, 2004, declared that the right to fly the National Flag freely with respect and dignity is a fundamental right of an Indian citizen within the meaning of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India.
The use, display and hoisting of the National Flag is guided by the 'Flag Code of India 2002' and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Here’s what to keep in mind while hoisting the national flag
A citizen, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist or display the National Flag on all days and occasions. Also, there is no restriction on the timing of flag display. The Flag Code of India was amended to allow the tricolour to be displayed in the open and on individual houses or buildings day and night.
While amending the Flag Code of India in December last year, the government allowed use of polyester, apart from cotton, wool, silk and khadi for making hand-spun, hand-woven and machine-made flags.
The National Flag shall be rectangular in shape. The Flag can be of any size but the ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2.
Whenever the tricolur is displayed, it should occupy the position of honour and should be distinctly placed.
A damaged or dishevelled Flag shall not be displayed.
The National Flag shall not be displayed in an inverted manner; the saffron band should not be the bottom band.
Note that any object including flowers or garlands, or emblem should not be placed on or above the flagmast from which the National Flag is flown.
Moreover, the Flag should not be flown on any vehicle except of the dignitaries mentioned in Section IX of Part Ill of the Flag Code, such as President, Vice-President, Prime-Minister, Governors etc.
No other flag or bunting should be placed higher than or above or side by side with the National Flag.
The National Flag shall not be flown at half-mast except on occasions instructed by the government.
How should the National Flag be disposed?
If the National Flag is damaged, it shall be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or any other method considering the dignity of the National Flag.
The National Flag, if made of paper, is waved by the general public, these flags should not be discarded on the ground. These should be discarded in private, keeping in mind the dignity of the National Flag.
(With inputs from agencies)