{"id":41,"date":"2013-10-14T13:55:55","date_gmt":"2013-10-14T13:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.indiavision.com\/about-india\/?page_id=41"},"modified":"2013-10-15T13:58:00","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T13:58:00","slug":"national-symbols","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.indiavision.com\/about-india\/india-facts\/national-symbols\/","title":{"rendered":"National Symbols"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Flag<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

The National Flag is a horizontal
\ntricolour of deep saffron (kesaria)<\/b> at the top, white<\/b> in the middle and dark green<\/b> at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy-blue wheel which represents the chakra<\/b>. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tApart from non-statutory instructions issued by the Government from time to time, display of the National Flag is governed by the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (No. 12 of 1950) and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (No. 69 of 1971). The Flag Code of India, 2002 is an attempt to bring together all such laws, conventions, practices and instructions for the guidance and benefit of all concerned.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe Flag Code of India, 2002, took effect from 26 January 2002 and superseded the ‘Flag Code-Indias’ as it existed. As per the provisions of the Flag Code of India, 2002, there are no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members of general public, private organisations, educational institutions, etc., except to the extent provided in the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and any other law enacted on the subject.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Bird<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

The Peacock<\/b>, Pavo cristatus (Linnaeus), the national bird of India. It is symbolic of qualities like beauty, grace, pride and mysticism. Peacocok is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck. The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green train of around 200 elongated feathers it is able to expand its tail erect like fan as ostentatious display. The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male, and lacks the train. These birds do not sound as beautiful as they look they have a harsh call. The elaborate courtship dance of the male, fanning out the tail and preening its feathers is a beautiful sight.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe peacock is widely found in the Indian sub-continent from the south and east of the Indus river, Jammu and Kashmir, east Assam, south Mizoram and the whole of the Indian peninsula. Found wild in India (and also domesticated in villages) they live in jungle lands near water. They were once bred for food but now hunting of peacocks is banned in India.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe Peacock is depicted in picture with the company of Indian Gods and Goddesses. It is the sacred bird of the India, protected not only by a religious sentiment but also by parliamentary statute. It is fully protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Flower<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

Lotus (Nelumbo Nucipera Gaertn)<\/b> is the National Flower of India. It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tIndia is rich in flora. Currently available data place India in the tenth position in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. From about 70 per cent geographical area surveyed so far, 47,000 species of plants have been described by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Tree<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

The National Tree of India is The Banyan Tree<\/b>. This huge tree towers over its neighbors and has the widest reaching roots of all known trees, easily covering several acres. It sends off new shoots from its roots, so that one tree is really a tangle of branches, roots, and trunks. The banyan tree regenerates and lives for an incredible length of time–thus it is thought of as the immortal tree.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tIts size and leafy shelter are valued in India as a place of rest and reflection, not to mention protection from the hot sun! It is still the focal point and gathering place for local councils and meetings. India has a long history of honoring this tree; it figures prominently in many of the oldest stories of the nation.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Anthem<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

The National Anthem of India is played or sung on various occasions. Instructions have been issued from time to time about the correct versions of the Anthem, the occasions on which these are to be played or sung, and about the need for paying respect to the anthem by observance of proper decorum on such occasions. The substance of these instructions has been embodied in this information sheet for general information and guidance.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe composition consisting of the words and music of the first stanza of the late poet Rabindra Nath Tagore’s song known as “Jana Gana Mana”<\/b> is the National Anthem of India. It reads as follows :<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tJana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
\n\t\t\t\t\tBharata-bhagya-vidhata.
\n\t\t\t\t\tPunjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
\n\t\t\t\t\tDravida-Utkala-Banga
\n\t\t\t\t\tVindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
\n\t\t\t\t\tUchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
\n\t\t\t\t\tTava shubha name jage,
\n\t\t\t\t\tTava shubha asisa mange,
\n\t\t\t\t\tGahe tava jaya gatha,
\n\t\t\t\t\tJana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
\n\t\t\t\t\tBharata-bhagya-vidhata.
\n\t\t\t\t\tJaya he, jaya he, jaya he, Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGeneral<\/b><\/p>\n