As India prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, homes, schools, offices and public spaces across the country are preparing to display the Tricolour. While hoisting the national flag is an important expression of patriotism, citizens are expected to follow the Flag Code of India to ensure that the Tricolour is displayed with dignity and respect.
Know the Correct Way to Hoist the Flag
On Independence Day, the national flag is traditionally hoisted from the bottom of the flagpole to the top. During a formal ceremony, people present should face the flag and stand at attention as it is hoisted. Personnel in uniform should follow the appropriate ceremonial salute.
The Tricolour must always be displayed with saffron at the top, white in the middle and green at the bottom, with the navy-blue Ashoka Chakra clearly visible in the centre.
Citizens should ensure that the flag is clean, intact and properly secured before displaying it. A damaged, torn or dirty national flag should not be displayed.
Can You Keep the Flag Up at Night?
One important rule has changed in recent years. Under the amended Flag Code, the national flag may be displayed both during the day and at night when it is flown in the open or displayed on the house of a member of the public. This means the older general advice that citizens must always lower the flag at sunset no longer applies to such private displays.
However, the flag must continue to be treated with dignity regardless of the time it remains displayed.
What You Should Not Do With the Tricolour
The national flag should never touch the ground or floor. It should also not be allowed to become damaged, dirty or crumpled.
Citizens should not use the Tricolour as a table covering, curtain, costume accessory or decorative cloth. It should not be deliberately displayed upside down or positioned in a manner that compromises its dignity.
The flag should also not be used to cover vehicles, buildings, podiums or other objects merely for decoration. When displayed alongside other flags, the Indian National Flag must receive the appropriate position of honour under the prescribed protocol.
Choosing and Handling the Flag
The Flag Code specifies the materials and standards applicable to the National Flag. Citizens participating in Har Ghar Tiranga should obtain a properly manufactured flag rather than creating one that does not meet the prescribed requirements.
If a flag becomes damaged or is no longer suitable for display, it should not simply be thrown away. The Flag Code provides for the National Flag to be disposed of privately and respectfully, preferably by burning or another method consistent with its dignity.
The Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign is encouraging citizens to participate by displaying the Tricolour at their homes, making correct flag etiquette especially relevant this Independence Day.
Patriotism comes with responsibility.
Displaying the national flag is more than a visual symbol of Independence Day. The Tricolour represents India’s sovereignty, unity and democratic identity. Following the flag code ensures that celebrations remain patriotic while also respecting the national symbol.
As millions of Indians prepare to mark August 15, observing these simple dos and don’ts can help ensure that the Tricolour is displayed proudly—and respectfully—across the country.
