National Symbols of India

National Symbols of India - National symbols of India have been selected carefully to project the image of India at its best. They are chosen to reflect its culture and beliefs and also the positive attributes often associate to Indian blood. Tiger, the National Animal of India, symbolizes strength, valor and courage while the Lotus, National Flower of India symbolizes spirituality and the purity of heart and mind. The Banyan Tree was crowned as the National Tree of India because of its immortality while the Peacock is the National Bird for its royal grace and natural beauty. Mango, the National Fruit of India, gives an idea about the tropical climate of the country and is so sweet and tasty that people from the past have noted it as one of the Indian wonders.

The National Song 'Vande Mataram' and the National Anthem 'Jana-Gana-Mana' were both penned by renowned Bengali poets known as Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Rabindra Nath Tagore respectively and were later translated. Both of them have played an important role in the freedom of struggle for India and were a source of inspiration to many freedom fighters. The smallest and the minutest details of the Lion Capital, the National Emblem of India; Tiranga, the National Flag of India and the pledges of India have deep symbolism and significance. Hockey was crowned as the National Game of India during the heydays of the National Hockey team and its fabulous performances. We hope that these days will soon return once more.

The National Flag of India is known as 'Tiranga' in Hindi that can be translated as 'having three colors. This tricolor flag has a wheel of law in its centre and signifies the freedom and sovereignty of India and its people.

Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) or the Tiger has been known long for his royal grace, strength, agility and enormous majesty and power. India hosts more than half the population of the tigers in the entire world and there are eight native species of tigers found in India.

Rabindranath Tagore, the famous Noble laureate and Indian poet penned the five stanzas of the song titled 'Jana-gana-mana'. It was first sung in the session of Indian National Congress in the yet-not-free India in Calcutta on 27th December 1911.

Indian Peacock has earned the glory of being the National Bird of the biggest democracy in the world. The biological name of the species is Pavo cristatus. Full of grace, pride, mysticism and beauty, peacocks have long been a part of the mythological tales of India and a symbol of royalty and divinity.

An Ashokan pillar at Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh depicts four lions on the top standing back to back. Its base has an elephant, a horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus and a Dharma Chakra or the Wheel of Law carved on it. This symbol was adopted as the National Emblem of India by the Indian Government on 26th January 1950.

The glory of being the National Flower of India goes to 'Lotus' or the water lily, an aquatic plant of Nymphaea family. The big attractive pink flowers have symmetrically arranged petals and broad floating that impart the sense of serenity and beauty.

Designated as the King of all fruits by Indians since long, ripe fleshy mangoes are certainly very tasty. The raw ones can be used to make spicy pickles that are an important part of Indian cuisine. Belonging to the Mangifera indica species, mangoes are native to India and are the most cultivated fruits of the tropical world.

Despite the ever-growing popularity of cricket, Hockey has managed to still be the National Game of India. The peak time of Indian hockey team was from 1928 to 1956, when it brought all the six consecutive Olympic gold medals home that were held during those years.

Here we will mention the National Pledge that all the Indian children vow to follow everyday in their school lives. We will also mention the National Integration Pledge that outlines the basic duties to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood in this vast country and the pledge mention in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution.

Bankim Chandra Chaterjee penned 'Vande Mataram' for his Bengali novel 'Anand Math'. The song charged with patriotic fervor and full of praises for the motherland was an instant favorite among the freedom fighters of the day.

Ficus bengalensis or the Banyan tree is the National Tree of India. Belonging to the fig family, the branches of the Banyan spread over a large area take roots and keep on living and regenerating for thousands of years.