India@75: Donning the 'Tricolour' colours without breaking the law

India@75: We Indians love to wear our hearts on our sleeves and during Independence Day, when our hearts are filled with the spirit of patriotism, wearing the tricolours (of the National Flag) on our sleeves (literally) does make sense, right?

But, back in 2017, when actor Priyanka Chopra chose to wear a tricolour scarf to celebrate her love for the nation, she was brutally trolled on the Internet. So what lead to such online criticism? What does the law say about wearing the three colours as a part of our outfit?

In 2005, the Lok Sabha had passed a bill to lawfully allow Indian citizens to wear the tricolour as part of their attire, if worn respectably. It is illegal to wear the tricolours anywhere below the waist and doing so will be considered a serious offence. So any piece of clothing below that cannot have any representation of the Indian National Flag. 

In 2020, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding usage of masks, people started selling and wearing tricolour masks around Independence Day. This was greatly opposed by the Indian policymakers as it was considered a brazen disrespect for the National Flag and consequently such masks were banned across the country.

So, before choosing your Independence Day outfit this year, remember that while it is not entirely illegal to wear the tricolours, it is important to do so with reverence. You can try out a tricoloured t-shirt, saree, dupatta, or even incorporate it in accessories like a turban, earrings and bangles to showcase your love for the country.