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Flag of India facts for kids

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India
Flag of India.svg
Name Tiranga
Use National flag IFIS Normal.svg
Proportion 2:3
Adopted 22 July 1947
Design Horizontal tricolour flag (India saffron, white, and India green). In the centre of the white is a navy blue wheel with 24 spokes
Designed by Pingali Venkayya Badruddin Tyabji Surayya Tyabji

The national Flag of India is a very important symbol for the country. It has three horizontal stripes of color. Because of its three colors, it is often called the Tiranga, which means "tricolour" in Hindi.

The top stripe is saffron, which shows the country's strength and courage. The middle stripe is white, standing for peace, truth, and purity. The bottom stripe is green, representing growth, fertility, and good luck for the land. In the center of the white stripe is a navy blue wheel called the Ashoka Chakra.

What the Colors and Symbols Mean

The colors of the Indian flag each have a special meaning:

  • Saffron: This color is at the top. It stands for bravery, sacrifice, and the spirit of giving up things for the country.
  • White: This is the middle color. It means peace, honesty, and pure thoughts. It reminds people to be truthful in their words and actions.
  • Green: This color is at the bottom. It represents life, growth, and good fortune. It shows the connection to the land and its prosperity.

The Ashoka Chakra

The blue wheel in the middle of the white stripe is called the Ashoka Chakra. It has 24 spokes. This wheel stands for progress and movement. It shows that life is about moving forward, and standing still can lead to problems. The Ashoka Chakra also represents the "wheel of law" or Dharma. It was taken from an ancient pillar built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.

How the Flag Was Designed

The idea for a national flag for India started a long time ago.

Early Ideas for the Flag

In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi first suggested a flag for the Indian National Congress. The first design was made by Pingali Venkayya. It had two colors: red for Hindus and green for Muslims. There was also a spinning wheel in the middle. Later, white was added to represent all other religions in India.

The Modern Flag's Creation

Just before India became independent in 1947, the country's leaders decided to change the flag. The spinning wheel was replaced with the Ashoka Chakra. This new design became the official national flag of India on July 22, 1947.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who later became India's second president, explained the meaning of the new flag. He said that the flag shows India's strength, courage, peace, truth, growth, and the importance of moving forward.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bandera de la India para niños

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