On Monday, Puri Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal hoisted a mammoth 36 ft x 24 ft Tiranga on a 108 ft high monumental flagpole installed by Flag Foundation of India (FFoI) at Batagaon Chhak.
The event was attended by FFoI president Naveen Jindal, vice president Shallu Jindal, Minister of School and Mass Education Samir Ranjan Dash, Minister of Sports and Youth Services Tushar Kanti Behera, MLA Jayant Kumar Sarangi, and senior district officials.
Prof Lal praised the Flag Foundation of India and its president, Naveen Jindal, for evoking patriotism in Indians by installing monumental flags across the country. Installing the National Flag in Puri, Lord Jagannath’s birthplace, is symbolic of the universal brotherhood and peace that the Tiranga stands for, he added.
On the occasion, Jindal said, “Tiranga is a pride of all Indians. It is above political, social or religious affiliation. Flag Foundation of India is constantly making its effort to inspire all Indians, especially the youths to take pride in displaying the National Flag. I hope this monumental flag will add colours to the beautiful skyline of Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath. Every day, thousands of devotees and tourists visit Puri and this monumental flag will be another place of attraction of them.”
Jindal paid tributes to Puri Martyrs Sri Jayee Rajguru, Sri Chakhi Khuntia, and Freedom Fighters Panchasakha and others, and spoke about his decade-long struggle to ensure that every citizen of the country has the right to fly the national flag with dignity.
The massive flagpole was built in partnership with the National Highways Authority of India and the Puri District Administration. The District Police team, accompanied by a Police band, raised the massive National flag of 36 x 24 ft to the peak of the Pole of 108 ft.
After a decade-long legal battle, Jindal won the legal right for all citizens to display the National flag throughout the year in 2004. In 2009, the FFoI, led by Shri Naveen Jindal and Shallu Jindal, introduced the concept of Monumental Flags in India. Since then, FFoI has installed over 100 monumental flags throughout the country. FFoI has already installed three monumental flags in Odisha, one each in Angul, Bhubaneswar, and Bonai.
Source:OCN