The Tricolour Across the Map of India

A country wearing its colours

Here the outline of India itself becomes the flag: saffron sweeping the Himalayan north, the white band with the navy Ashoka Chakra across the heart of the country, green filling the peninsula to Kanyakumari. It is one of the most loved motifs of Independence Day and Republic Day art — classroom charts, posters and cards reach for this image before any other.

The colours the map wears each carry a meaning. Saffron stands for strength and courage; the white band for peace and truth; green for the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land. At the centre, the navy blue Ashoka Chakra denotes righteousness, progress and perpetuity — and its 24 spokes stand for the 24 hours of the day.