Tricolour demand soars as I-day fever grips city

With Independence Day round the corner, demand for the national flag is on the rise. Stores selling the Tricolour are witnessing increased sales with customers flocking in large numbers and according to the shopkeepers, sales have doubled this year compared to the last year.

Enquiries over availability of flags began sometime in July, according to Satish Ada of Khadi Bhavan, Koti.

“Those who buy flags early, mostly government or private organisations, come and select their preferred sizes. There are mostly three sizes, 41/2 x 3, 6x4 and 9x6 feet. The bigger sizes are taken by government departments, banks, and the police. Sales have gone up for the past three years. Nowadays, even small private firms, apartments, hospitals and nursing homes are hoisting the national flag. This year the sales have doubled,” he said.

He added, “This year we have seen growing demand for Khadi pocket flags, tricolored dashboard flags and many decorative items of tricolour. Most of the flags are made in Hubli and Mumbai. We hope sales will further increase over the next two days.”

Enquiries with a cross section of shops revealed that against the 400 or so flags most of them sold last year, this year, the numbers have already reached 800. According to one khadi materials shop owner, sale of the national flag is more for Independence Day than for the Republic Day.

Rajesh of Khadi World, Kothapet, said, “Residential societies and schools are among those asking for standard sized flags these days. Buyers are very particular about sizes and dimensions these days. There seems to be a renewed vigour of patriotism and this year, we are seeing record sales.”