India’s 79th Independence Day is fast approaching. Just step out of the house, and you can see it. The moment your car stops at a traffic signal, the men, women, and children who usually rush to your window with tissues, cheap toys, and pirated books, before August 15th, sell National Flags. You can see Tricolours sitting proudly on the dashboards of cars, flying on auto-rickshaws and motorcycles, and other vehicles. Tricolour is to our Independence Day, what lights are to Diwali and colours to Holi.

The Tricolour makes us all emotional. From victory celebrations to agitations, no other symbol comes closer to expressing our nationalism than the Tricolour. During cricket matches or any other sports event, it gives us an adrenaline rush like nothing else can.

The size of the flags being sold on Delhi roads just before Independence Day is increasing every year. The number of people selling them is also growing; they start selling flags a week before Independence Day. The age at which children sell them is decreasing. Sometimes, the size of the Tricolour being held by the child is much larger than the child’s size. It is difficult for them to handle it. I am worried that they might unknowingly violate the Flag code. These children help our most sacred symbol of nationalism reach our homes, which in turn helps send food to their homes.

People associated with the flag business are happy; it is their peak season for making money. I hope that after Independence Day, the flags are kept with due respect. The Flag Code is not violated.

May the Indian Tricolour always fly high.

Text and photos by Prerna Jain.