Top 9 Most Iconic Symbols of India

Photo: Youtube

Here are the top 9 most iconic symbols of India

#1. National Flag (Tiranga)

The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of India saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle and India green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of the 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.

The top saffron colour indicates the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The green shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.

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, as cited by National Portal of India.

Tiranga. Photo: The Economic Times

#2. National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana)

Indian national anthem's staff. Photo: Flat

According to Career Power, the National Anthem of India Jana-gana-mana, composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem of India on 24 January 1950. It was first sung on 27 December 1911 at the then Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.

The complete song consists of five stanzas. The first stanza contains the full version of the National Anthem.

#3. National Calendar (Saka calendar)

The national calendar based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days was adopted from 22 March 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for the following official purposes:

Gazette of India.

News broadcast by All India Radio.

Calendars issued by the Government of India.

Government communications addressed to the members of the public.

Photo: Wikipedia

Dates of the national calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates of the Gregorian calendar, 1 Chaitra falling on 22 March normally and on 21 March in a leap year, Know India cites.

#4. National Song (Vande Mataram)

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom. It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana. On January 24, 1950, the President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad came up with a statement in the Constituent Assembly, "the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it."

The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. The song was a part of Bankimchandra's most famous novel Anand Math (1882).

Photo: New Indian Express.

#5. National Emblem (National Emblem of India)

The Lion capital from a pillar of Ashoka found at Sarnath near Varanasi can now be seen at ASI Museum in Sarnath. As soon as you enter the museum, the giant sculpture of 4 Asiatic lions facing four sides welcomes you. Lions sit on a pedestal with the relief of a wheel, a horse, a lion, a bull and an elephant. This pedestal, in turn, sits on an inverted lotus.

Photo: Live Law

I have seen lion capitals at places like Vaishali in Bihar, but since this one at Sarnath is in front of you – one realizes the size of the capital. They say a huge wheel with 24 spokes used to sit on top of this capital. Remember, Sarnath is the place associated with setting the wheel of dharma in motion. This is where Buddha gave his first sermon to his first 5 followers.

The lion capital together with the verse from Mundaka Upanishad saying Satyamev Jayate (truth alone shall triumph) completes the emblem. It can be seen on all the government stationery and all the visiting cards of government officials.

#6. National Fruit (Mango)

Mango (Mangifera indica), affectionately called King of Fruits is the National fruit of India. Its sweet fragrance and delectable flavours have won the hearts of many around the world since time immemorial. As the national fruit of India, it represents prosperity, abundance and richness in favour of the country’s image, India Tales cites.

#7. National Flower (Lotus)

Photo: Cultural India

Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertn) 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.

India 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).

#8. National Animal (Royal Bengal Tiger)

Photo: SSCAdda

Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India and ranks among the biggest cats in the world. It was adopted as the national animal of India in April 1973 due to the dwindling population of the tigers. Prior to the tiger the national animal of India was the Lion.

#9. National Tree (Indian Banyan)

Phôt: World Hindu News

The national tree of India is the Banyan tree, designated formally as Ficus benghalensis. The tree is often a symbol of the fabled ‘Kalpa Vriksha’ or the ‘Tree of Wish Fullfillment’ as it is associated with longevity and has important medicinal properties. The very size and life span of the banyan tree make it a habitat for a large number of creatures.

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