Tribute paid to Mahatma Gandhi with world’s largest Khadi National Flag at Leh

05 October 2021: Pride and patriotism, the collective spirit of Indian-ness and the heritage artisanal craft of Khadi, brought the nation together in saluting the world’s largest National Flag, made of Khadi cotton fabric at Leh. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has prepared the Monumental Khadi National Flag to pay the highest respects to Mahatma Gandhi.

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. Chairman KVIC Vinai Kumar Saxena, MP from Ladakh JT Namgyal and Chief of Army Staff General MM Narawane were present on the occasion.

The Monumental National Flag measures 225 feet long, 150 feet wide and weighs (approx.) 1,400 kg. 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.

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. The Army has displayed the flag on a hilltop in the main Leh city. The Army has prepared a frame to display the flag so that it does not touch the ground.