Understand the Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling on Republic Day 2023

Mahima Chaudhary | Updated: Jan 24, 2023 23:50 IST

Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling: India is celebrating 75 years of independence with zeal and pride. The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, run by the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,’ is underway to unite the nation in the tricolour. Indians across the country are rushing to buy and display the tricolour in their homes, businesses, neighbourhoods, and offices. But the question remains: is the National Flag hoisted or unfurled on Independence Day? Many people confuse the terms hoisted and unfurled, but there is a significant distinction between the two. The Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling will be discussed in this article.

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Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling
Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling FAQ

Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag on August 15th to commemorate the historical event of India’s independence. The President of India unfurls the flag on Rajpath before presiding over a parade on Republic Day. While both events honour and pay respect to the national flag and may appear to be the same in some ways, there are some differences in the ceremonies.

The hoisting of the flag on Independence Day symbolises the rise of a new nation free of colonial dominance. On Republic Day, the country commemorates the adoption of the Constitution.
The position of the flag is extremely important! The positioning of the flag shows the difference between unfurling and hoisting. When the national flag is hoisted, it is tied to the pole and hangs at the bottom. The Prime Minister raises and hoists the national flag to commemorate the historical event of the day. On Republic Day, on the other hand, the flag is closed and tied at the top of the pole. As is customary on Independence Day, the President unfurls the flag without raising it.
The difference between the two ceremonies is that India was already independent when it became a republic.

Why does the President unfold and the Prime Minister hoist?

So far, it’s clear who hoists and unfurls the national flag on which occasions, but why is this order followed in India? Of course, there is historical precedent for the Prime Minister hoisting the flag on Independence Day and the President of India unfurling the Tricolour on Republic Day.

According to history, there was no President on the first Independence Day. Lord Mountbatten was still the Governor General of India, the position that was equivalent to and preceded the President before it was abolished. Obviously, the coloniser would not hoist the flag of a newly independent nation, so the job fell to the Prime Minister, who was agreed to be the representative of the people of India.

Hope you found this article on the Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling helpful.

Difference Between Flag Hoisting and Flag Unfurling FAQ

Q.1 What does it mean to hoist a flag?

Ans.1

When the flag is hoisted, it is raised from the bottom of the pole to the top.

Q.2 On Republic Day, who raises the flag?

Ans.2

The Indian President raises the flag. President Droupadi Murmu Will Unfurl The Tricolor On Rajpath, New Delhi, On The 74th Republic Day 2023.

Q.3 Why is the flag flown on Republic Day?

Ans.3

There was no need to raise the flag from the bottom because India was an independent nation when Republic Day was first observed. As a result, only the President can raise the national flag.