Top 16 National Symbols of India
16 Must Know National Symbols of Incredible India
National symbols of India are the identity elements and the distinctive characteristics of the country. These symbols have been chosen to depict the culture and nature of the country. Here is the list of 16 National Symbols of Incredible India everyone should know.
List of National symbols of India
#1 National Flag – Tiranga
Tiranga a Tricolor national flag of India, represents the colorful beauty of our country. The tiranga have three colors in it which consist of saffron at the top which signifies the sacrifice and patriotism, white in the middle which stands for the truth along with Ashoka Chakra in the middle of the white is the blue wheel in which we have 27 stikes that shows the 27 states of the country. We have green at the bottom for life and prosperity.
#2 National Anthem – Jana Gana Mana
| जनगणमन अधिनायक जय हे, भारतभाग्यविधाता। पंजाब सिंध गुजरात मराठा, द्राविड़ उत्कल बंग। विंध्य हिमाचल यमुना गंगा, उच्छल जलधि तरंग। तव शुभ नामे जागे, तव शुभ आशिष मागे। गाहे तव जयगाथा। जनगणमंगलदायक जय हे, भारतभाग्यविधाता। जय हे, जय हे, जय हे, जय जय जय जय हे॥ |
Jana Gana Mana is the National anthem of India, which is sung in every prayer of the school assembly, and at the starting of any national elements. It was composed by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. The national anthem takes fifty-two seconds and was composed in the Bengali language called sadhu bhasha.
#3 National Song – Vande Mataram
| वन्दे मातरम्। सुजलाम् सुफलाम् मलयज शीतलाम् सस्यश्यामलाम् मातरम्। वन्दे मातरम्। शुभ्रज्योत्स्नाम् पुलकितयामिनीम् फुल्लकुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम् सुहासिनीम् सुमधुर भाषिणीम् सुखदाम् वरदाम् मातरम्।। वन्दे मातरम्। |
Vande Mataram is the national song of India which is composed of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and was originally published in 1882. Vande Mataram was adopted as the national song on 24th January 1950. The song has been translated into several Indian languages.
#4 National Currency – Indian Rupee
The official currency of the Republic of India is Indian Rupee and is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India. The symbol used for Indian rupees is given in the Image. The new symbol was officially adopted in 2010 and has been in circulation on 8th July 2011.
#5 National Emblem
The National Emblem of Republic India is the adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka from 250 BCE, at Sarnath which is preserved in the Sarnath Museum near Varanasi India. The Emblem features four Asiatic lions, symbolizing power, courage, confidence and at the bottom is a horse and a bull with the wheel of Dharma chakra at the center. The current version of the emblem was officially adopted on 26th January 1950.
#6 National Pledge
| भारत मेरा देश है। सब भारतवासी मेरे भाई-बहन हैं। मैं अपने देश से प्रेम करता हैं। इसकी समृद्ध एवं विविध संस्कृति पर मुझे गर्व है। मैं सदा इसका सुयोग्य अधिकारी बनने का प्रयत्न करता रहूँगा। मैं अपने माता-पिता, शिक्षको एवं गुरुजनो का सम्मान करूँगा और प्रत्येक के साथ विनीत रहूँगा। मैं अपने देश और देशवाशियों के प्रति सत्यनिष्ठा की प्रतिज्ञा करता हूँ। इनके कल्याण एवं समृद्धि में ही मेरा सुख निहित है। |
The National Pledge is an oath of allegiance to the Republic of India, commonly recited in the schools during assembly or Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations. Also, it is found in the opening pages of school textbooks and calendars. However, the pledge is not a part of the Indian Constitution. This pledge was originally composed in the Telugu Language by the writer, Pydimarri Venkata Subba Rao in 1962. It was first read out in a school of Visakhapatnam in 1963 and then subsequently got translated into the various regional languages.
#7 National Calendar – Saka Calendar
| चैत्र वैशाख ज्येष्ठ (जेठ) आषाढ़ श्रावण (सावन) भाद्रपद (भादों) अश्विन (क्वार) कार्तिक अग्रहायण (अगहन) पौष माघ फाल्गुन |
Saka Calendar or the Indian National calendar is also called Shalivahana Shaka Calendar also used alongside the Gregorian Calendar, by The Gazette of India. It follows the signs of the tropical zodiac. The Saka calendar is also used in Java and Bali among Indonesian Hindus.
#8 National River – Ganges
River Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus and is the national river of India. Also, it is the longest river in India flowing over 2,510 km of mountains, valleys, and plains. The River Ganges originates from the snowfields of the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas as the Bhagirathi River, which later joins by the other rivers and it is the home to many endangered Ganges river dolphins.
#9 National Flower – Indian Lotus
The Indian Lotus is the most beautiful species of aquatic plants that are commonly cultivated in the water gardens. This plant occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India. Lotus flower symbolizes divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge and enlightenment. It is regarded as the symbol of triumph as it can survive to the regerminate for thousands of years. It also represents long life, honor, and good fortune.
#10 National Fruit – Mango
Mango is the juicy stone fruit that is produced from the numerous species of the tropical trees belonging to the flowering plant. India is home to more than 100 varieties of the mango fruits, which are found in nature as well as in the wild forest. The mango is eaten ripe as well as it is used in pickles.
#11 National Tree – Indian Banyan
The Indian Banyan tree is the National Tree of India and the native to the Indian subcontinent only. The Banyan tree is among the largest trees in the world. It is a national tree because of its eternal life, and ever-expanding branches. The country’s unity is symbolized by the trees’ huge structure and its deep roots.
#12 National Animal – Bengal Tiger
The Royal Bengal Tiger has been declared as the National Animal of India in April 1972, due to its rich cultural history, abundance, characteristics and conservation efforts. The Royal Bengal tiger ranks among the biggest cats in the world. India is home to the largest number of Bengal tigers and the estimated populations of the Bengal tiger in India has been increased to 3,890 individuals.
#13 National Bird – Indian Peafowl
Indian Peacock or the Indian Peafowl is the National Bird of India since 1963, because of its rich religious and legendary involvement in the Indian traditions. There are many other reasons due to which the peacock has been selected as the national birds are, the bird is found in every state of the country, it has a long feather and is very pretty with different colors. The peacock dances before the rain to show the beauty of nature. It can be recognized by the common man of any country. The bird is found in the drier lowland areas and a resident breeder across the Indian Subcontinent.
#14 National Aquatic Animal – Ganges River Dolphin
The Ganges river dolphin has been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India by the Indian government because it is the only surviving aquatic animal in pure and freshwater. It has been selected to be the city animal of the Guwahati. It is also said to represent the purity of the holy Ganga River. Its appearance is very sleek with a long pointed snout and also has visible teeth in both the lower and upper jaws. The Ganges dolphin is also called Ganges Sushuk.
#15 National Reptile – King Cobra
The King Cobra is a venomous snake species in the family Elapidae, endemic to the forest in India and Southeast Asia. The king cobra has been selected as the National Reptile of India, as it is the sole member of its own genus and world’s longest venomous snake with a length of 18.8 ft.
#16 National Heritage Animal – Indian Elephant
Indian elephants have been declared as the National Heritage Animal of India since October 22, 2010, by India’s Environment Ministry. It has been declared as the national heritage animal to increase protection for the country’s nearly 29000 elephants. It has been declared as endangered and threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation.
Conclusion
These symbols have been marked as National due to various reasons also these symbols are very unique and have different meanings. They denote the beauty of India and show the descriptive culture of the Indian subcontinent.
