New Delhi, Aug 15 (JKNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation from the historic Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, calling upon citizens to dream big and work collectively towards achieving the goal of a developed India, or ‘Viksit Bharat’, by 2047.
PM Modi, who delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort as per news agency JKNS, paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters, remembering their sacrifices and contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
“Small dreams are not sufficient anymore… we should dream big… India has a big dream to become ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. When the world’s most populous nation resolves to become developed, the world will look at us differently,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the country’s aspirations must match the scale of its potential and urged citizens to collectively contribute towards building a stronger, developed and self-reliant India.
During his address, Modi also noted that ‘Vande Mataram’ was echoing from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time since Independence, giving the national celebration an added significance.
PM Modi’s Traditional Red Turban Draws Attention
Ahead of his address, Prime Minister Modi appeared at the Red Fort wearing a traditional red tie-and-dye turban, continuing his long-standing tradition of using Independence Day attire to showcase India’s rich cultural diversity.
He paired the red turban with a white kurta and chocolate-brown vest, while three pocket squares in saffron, white and green added a subtle tricolour touch to his attire.
The traditional turban is associated with cultural traditions of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and Modi’s Independence Day turbans over the years have become a distinctive visual feature of the national celebrations.
Last year, he wore a vibrant Rajasthani leheriya turban in orange, yellow and green hues, reflecting India’s diverse textile and cultural traditions.
In 2023, Modi opted for a bandhani-print turban featuring yellow, green and red shades, paired with a black V-neck jacket. In 2022, he wore a saffron turban with red motifs and a flowing tail, along with a blue jacket and stole.
His 2021 attire featured a cream-and-saffron turban, while in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he wore a white scarf edged in saffron that also served as a protective face covering.
Modi’s first Independence Day appearance as Prime Minister in 2014 featured a striking red Jodhpuri bandhej turban. In subsequent years, he continued the tradition with colourful turbans, including a yellow and multicoloured crisscross design in 2015, a pink-yellow tie-and-dye turban in 2016 and a red-and-yellow turban in 2017.
In 2018, saffron became the dominant colour of his Independence Day turban.
The evolving choice of traditional turbans has become an annual feature of Modi’s Independence Day appearances, reflecting India’s regional craftsmanship, textiles and cultural diversity alongside the national significance of August 15. (JKNS)
