World’s largest Indian National flag was set atop a hill at over 2000 feet above the ground level in Leh, Ladakh to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, on his 152nd birth anniversary - Gandhi Jayanti 2021.
As many as 150 troops of Indian Army’s 57 Engineer regiment carried the monumental national flag and displayed it in a frame created atop the Leh hill, so that it does not touch the ground.
The world's largest and possibly the heaviest national flag is made of Khadi cotton fabric and measures 225 feet long, 150 feet wide and weighs around1400 kg, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said in a release.
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) prepared the Monumental Khadi National Flag to pay the highest respects to Mahatma Gandhi, who gifted Khadi, the most eco-friendly fabric to the world.
The flag was unveiled by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh RK Mathur, who said the Monumental National Flag would bind every Indian together with the patriotic spirit.
KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena, MP from Ladakh, JT Namgyal and Chief of Army Staff General MM Narawane were present on the occasion.
Know all about the world’s largest national flag – The Khadi Indian Flag
The ministry stated that the making of this monumental National Flag has created nearly 3,500 man hours of additional work for Khadi artisans and allied workers. A whopping 4,600 meters of hand-spun, hand-woven Khadi cotton bunting has been used in making the flag which covers the total area of 33,750 square feet. The Ashok Chakra in the flag measures a diameter of 30 feet.
It took 49 days for 70 Khadi artisans to prepare this flag, the ministry stated.
The ministry stated that the KVIC has conceptualized and prepared the flag to celebrate “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, the 75 years of Independence. Since, handling and displaying the National Flag of this dimension required utmost care and precision, KVIC has handed over the flag to the Indian Army.
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The flag has been divided into nine equal parts weighing 100 kg each and each part measures 50 x 75 feet. Nefa has been provided on all four sides that contains 12 mm rope. A total of 12 high quality nylon ropes - i.e. three ropes each on top and bottom sides and three ropes on left and right sides have been provided with the breaking load capacity of approximately 3,000 kg, the ministry said.
Further, each rope has a loop on both the ends that can collectively hold the weight of the flag. These parts have been stitched together to make the flag and joints have been stitched in such a way that the ropes inside the nefa will remain invisible. The inner lining of nefa is made of chemically coated Khadi bunting that reduces the friction from the ropes and prevent damage to the flag's fabric. Nefa has been provided in the tri-color so as to merge with the colors of the flag, the ministry added.
