INDIA. Mumbai: The largest Indian tricolour national flag was unveiled in a grand ceremony organized to celebrate the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi along with ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (commemorating the 75th anniversary of India’s independence), in Leh, the capital of the Union Territory of Ladakh on Saturday.
The monumental national flag, considered the world’s largest flag, was unveiled by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur, on the hill overlooking Leh valley at a historic event organized by Fire and Fury Corps.
General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, and Lieutenant General YK Joshi, GOC-in-C Northern Command attended the event. Lieutenant General PGK Menon, GOC, Fire and Fury Corps, and senior military and civil officials were also present, an official statement said.
The flag is the largest hand-woven and hand-spun Cotton Khadi Flag ever manufactured in India, measuring 225 ft by 150 ft and weighing 1000 kgs. The flag was made by Mumbai-based Khadi Dyers and Printers, affiliated to Khadi Village and Industries Commission.
The “Sura-Soi Engineer Regiment” was entrusted with the responsibility to bring the national flag from Mumbai to Leh and also with the daunting task of installing the National Flag at the top of the high mountains overlooking Leh for the unveiling ceremony.
The ceremony included a series of events to mark the momentous occasion. The event commenced with the Brass Band of Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre along with the students of the Indian Army’s project “Ladakh Ignited Minds”, performing the National Anthem when the flag was unveiled.
Advanced Light Helicopters of the Army Aviation Squadron carried out a flypast and showered flower petals over the national flag, followed by students of Lamdon Model School singing a patriotic song symbolizing the spirit of nationalism.
The Chief Guest addressed the gathering of about 500 people which included brave soldiers of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Vikas Battalion, Veterans, Veer Naris (brave women), NCC cadets, and School children.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to buy khadi products to mark Gandhi Jayanti. “Let us buy Khadi products and mark Bapu’s Jayanti with great fervor,” he said during a recent episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. “Today in the 75th year of independence, we can say with satisfaction that the pride that Khadi had in the freedom movement, today our young generation is giving the same glory to khadi,” he added.
