National Anthem - Jana Gana Mana - 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. Much later, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the first stanza of this song as the National Anthem of India on 24th January 1950. We have given the song below along with the line-by-line translation of the song:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
(Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, victory to thee)
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
(Dispenser of India's destiny.)
Punjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha
(Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha,)
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
(Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal;)
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
(It echoes in the hills of the Vindyas and Himalayas,)
National Anthem of IndiaUchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
(Mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges and is)
Tava shubha name jage,
(Chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.)
Tava shubha asisa mange,
(They pray for thy blessings and)
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
(Sing thy praise.)
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
(The saving of all people waits in thy hand, victory to thee)
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
(Thou dispenser of India's destiny.)
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
(Victory to thee, victory to thee, victory to thee,)
Jaya, jaya, jaya, jaya he!
(Victory, victory, victory to thee.)
The full version of the National Anthem takes about 52 seconds to play. On certain occasions, a shorter version of the song consisting of the first and last lines of the stanza is played that takes around 20 seconds. Written originally in Benagali by Tagore, it was later translated to Hindi, the national language of India. Every Indian child is made to learn the National Anthem in schools and it is considered a patriotic duty to stand erect whenever its music is played, as a mark of respect to the country.
National Emblem of India - 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 two-dimensional picture of this emblem has become the official symbol of the government now that only shows three of the four lions and the base having the Dharma Chakra in the center and a bull and horse on either side and an engraved phase that reads 'Satyameva Jayate' in the Devanagari script. The phrase is translated to mean 'Truth alone triumphs'.
Ashoka was a great Mauryan King who was known far and wide for converting to Buddhism after seeing the after effects of the war imposed by him on the small states surrounding him, especially on Kalinga. He was said to be full of remorse seeing the ill effects his ambition had brought on the soldiers and families from both the sides. His emblem has now become the official seal of the President of India and Central and State Governments of the Indian union. Ashoka erected the Lion Capital in the 3rd century BC to mark the spot where Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace. Now, it is symbolic of India's commitment to world peace and goodwill. The three lions visible in the emblem symbolize power, courage and confidence. This State emblem is used only for official purposes and commands utmost respect and loyalty.
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.
National Flag of India
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.
National Animal of India
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.
National Anthem of 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.
National Bird of India
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.
National Emblem of India
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.
National Flower of India
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.
National Fruit of India
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.
National Game of India
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.
National Pledge of India
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.
Indian National Song
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.
National Tree of India
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.
Indian Festivals Calendar 2011 | ||
| January 2011 | ||
| 01 | Saturday | New Year |
| 05 | Wednesday | Guru Govind Singh Jayanti |
| 13 | Thursday | Lohri |
| 14 | Friday | Makar Sankranti |
| 14 | Friday | Pongal |
| 26 | Wednesday | Republic Day |
| February 2011 | ||
| 02 | Wednesday | Mauni Amavasya |
| 03 | Thursday | Chinese New Year |
| 08 | Tuesday | Vasant Panchami |
| 14 | Monday | Valentines Day |
| 15 | Tuesday | Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet), Sunni |
| 20 | Sunday | Milad un Nabi, Shia |
| March 2011 | ||
| 03 | Thursday | Mahashivratri |
| 20 | Sunday | Holi |
| 20 | Sunday | Hola Mohalla |
| 21 | Monday | Navroz |
| 28 | Monday | Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zaranhushtra in Fasli Calendar) |
| April 2011 | ||
| 03 | Sunday | Mothering Sunday (UK)s |
| 04 | Monday | Gudi Padva |
| 04 | Monday | Bikrami Samvat (Hindu New Year) |
| 12 | Tuesday | Ram Navmi |
| 14 | Thursday | Baisakhi |
| 17 | Sunday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| 17 | Sunday | Palm Sunday (Western) |
| 17 | Sunday | Palm Sunday (Orthodox) |
| 18 | Monday | Hanuman Jayanti |
| 19 | Tuesday | Passover (Till 25th April) |
| 22 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 24 | Sunday | Easter |
| May 2011 | ||
| 08 | Sunday | Mother's Day |
| 17 | Tuesday | Buddha Jayanti / Buddha Purnima |
| June 2011 | ||
| 16 | Thursday | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi Calendar) |
| 19 | Sunday | Father's Day |
| 21 | Ganga Dussehra | |
| July 2011 | ||
| 03 | Sunday | Rath Yatra |
| 15 | Friday | Guru Poornima |
| 20 | Wednesday | Jamshedi Noruz (Zoroastrian New Year in Qadimi Calendar) |
| August 2011 | ||
| 01 | Monday | Ramadan Begins |
| 04 | Thursday | Naag Panchami |
| 07 | Sunday | Friendship Day |
| 13 | Saturday | Rakhi /Raksha Bandhan |
| 15 | Monday | Independence Day |
| 22 | Monday | Krishna Janmashtami |
| 30 | Tuesday | Id-Ul-Fitr, Ramadan Ends |
| September 2011 | ||
| 01 | Thursday | Ganesh Chaturathi |
| 01 | Thursday | Onam |
| 05 | Monday | Teachers Day |
| 28 | Wednesday | Navaratra Begins |
| October 2011 | ||
| 02 | Sunday | Gandhi Jayanti |
| 06 | Thursday | Dussehra |
| 16 | Sunday | Karva Chauth |
| 24 | Monday | Dhan Teras |
| 26 | Wednesday | Diwali |
| 27 | Thursday | Govardhan Puja |
| 28 | Friday | Bhai Duj |
| 31 | Monday | Halloween |
| November 2011 | ||
| 06 | Sunday | Eid-Ul-Adha |
| 10 | Thursday | Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| 14 | Monday | Children's Day |
| 24 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day |
| 26 | Saturday | Al-Hijira, Muharram Begins |
| December 2011 | ||
| 20 | Tuesday | Hanukkah |
| 25 | Sunday | Christmas |
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