World's largest Khadi National Flag weighs 1,400 kg, and is 225 feet long

The nation gave a befitting tribute to the Father of Nation on his 152nd birth anniversary: A national flag made of khadi, the most eco-friendly fabric Mahatma Gandhi had gifted to the world. A whopping 4,600 metres 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. It took 49 days for 70 khadi artisans to prepare this flag. The Army has displayed the flag on a hilltop in the main Leh city

New Delhi: The nation today gave a befitting tribute to the Father of Nation on his 152nd birth anniversary: A national flag made of khadi, the most eco-friendly fabric Mahatma Gandhi had gifted to the world. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has prepared the Monumental Khadi National Flag.

The Monumental National Flag measures 225 feet long, 150 feet wide and weighs (approx.) 1400 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 conceptualised 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.

The flag has been divided into 9 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. 3 ropes each on top & bottom sides and 3 ropes on left & right sides have been provided with the breaking load capacity of approx. 3000 Kgs.

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 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-colour so as to merge with the colours of the flag.

The flag was unveiled in Leh by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh R.K. Mathur, in the presence of Chief of Army Staff General MM Narawane, KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena, MP from Ladakh JT Namgyal and others.