Indore hoists giant national flag on Republic Day

Indore, Jan. 26 (ANI): As the nation commemorated its 60th Republic Day on Monday, people in Indore's Gandhi Chowk were thrilled to salute a giant national flag, which many described as the highest flag of the country.

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji hoisted the special flag, which measured 21 x 14 feet and was unfurled over an 80-feet iron pole here.

According to the organiser, the inspiration to unfurl the giant flag was derived from the recent Mumbai terror attack.

"When Mumbai terror attack took place, at that time whole Mumbai came together to raise their voice against terrorism. We also got inspired from that and we wanted to do something similar to that, that's why we organised this flag hoisting ceremony to show to the world that we are united," said Prakash Rathor, the organiser.

The Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare and others killed in the terror attack in country's national capital during the three-day Nov.26 Mumbai seize, gave inspiration to a Jaipur artist who made this giant flag.

"I am passionate about making images of the martyrs, it's my way of paying homage to them. I started making images of martyrs from 1999, during Kargil war I had made images of all the martyrs from Rajasthan state," said Chandra Prakash, the flagmaker.

Prakash doesn't sell off his portraits inspired by the martyrs, as his expression of gratitude for those who sacrificed their lives for the nation. He rather gifts these paintings to the families of the martyrs. By Rajni Khaitan (ANI)