SRINAGAR, AUG 12: The pulse of patriotism beat loud and clear across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday as the Union Territory witnessed its largest coordinated display of the national flag ahead of the 80th Independence Day. What began as a token campaign morphed into a mass movement, with thousands pouring out of their homes—from the remotest villages along the Line of Control to the bustling city centres—to participate in the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ and the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative.
The summer capital, Srinagar, emerged as the epicentre of the frenzy. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, flanked by senior bureaucrats and police brass, flagged off a massive rally that snaked through the city’s iconic boulevard. What set this year apart was not just the officialdom but the sheer groundswell of public participation—bikers, padyatris, women, and children waving the flag with an abandon rare in the Valley’s recent memory.
“The Tiranga is not a piece of cloth. It is the soul of our Republic, the dreams of our freedom fighters, and the promise of our future,” LG Sinha told the gathering. He underscored that the campaign has transformed into a “people’s movement,” asserting, “The message from Kashmir today is clear—we stand with the nation, unwaveringly.”
A senior civil official who was part of the rally told Kashmir Convener, “This flag has flown over this land since 1947. It has seen our sacrifices, our struggles. Those who question our patriotism should come to these streets and see the fire in the eyes of our youth.”
Meanwhile, the real story of the day unfolded away from the VIP entourage. In the narrow bylanes of downtown Srinagar—areas historically marked by stone-pelting and shutdowns—the tricolour fluttered from rooftops, shops, and even horse-carts. Local organisers reported that over a lakh of flags had been distributed across districts, with rural pockets showing unprecedented enthusiasm.
“I have lived through the worst of times. I have seen curfews and chaos. Today, my 10-year-old son is waving a flag without looking over his shoulder. That is the real independence,” said Ghulam Nabi Dar, a 60-year-old shopkeeper from Nowhatta.
“We have seen militancy, we have seen lockdowns. But this—this feels like a new beginning,” said Dar, as he carefully folded his flag for the night. “Tomorrow, I will hoist it again. And this time, I won’t take it down.”
Youth activists, many of whom were once associated with separatist narratives, acknowledged the seismic shift. “We were fed a different story for decades. But when I saw my Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh friends marching together today, I realised the flag doesn’t ask about your religion. It asks about your country,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a local youth leader from Anantnag, who led a contingent of 500 bikers to the rally.
Rukhsana Bano, a 19-year-old college student from the Old City, articulated the generational chasm starkly. “My mother was scared to even put a flag on our balcony. Today, I danced with it in the middle of the road. We are not the same generation. We want jobs, education, and peace. And this flag is our ticket to that future,” she told this newspaper, her dupatta wrapped in a shade of saffron.
Even civil society activists, who have often been critical of the administration, struck a cautiously optimistic note. “The symbolism cannot be ignored. When the flags go up in Tral and Pulwama voluntarily, it indicates a breakdown of the old fear psychosis. Whether this translates into lasting political dialogue remains to be seen, but today, the streets have spoken,” said a prominent human rights activist from Srinagar, requesting anonymity.
A senior police officer, who monitored the rallies across all 20 districts, confirmed to Kashmir Convener that the events passed off peacefully—a far cry from the tense Independence Days of the past. “We had deployed adequate forces, but they were barely needed. The crowd was celebrating, not confronting. It’s a welcome headache for us,” he quipped, adding that the administration has planned similar events to continue till August 15.
In the border districts of Kupwara and Rajouri, villagers defied the rain to take out small but spirited processions. In Gurez, a village just across the LoC, residents hoisted a giant flag on the banks of the Kishanganga, with locals chanting ‘Vande Mataram’. “We live under the shadow of the gun. But today, we wanted to show that our heart beats for India,” said Mohammad Shafi, a farmer from the area.
The Directorate of Information & Public Relations confirmed that the campaign was a “runaway success,” with participation numbers exceeding projections by nearly 40%. “We have requests pouring in from panchayats that didn’t even get the flags on time. The hunger is real,” an official said.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party across Kashmir districts also organised Mega Tiranga Rallies as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign–2026, ahead of Independence Day.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP leaders said the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign aims to encourage public participation and promote the spirit of national unity and patriotism. They called upon people to hoist the Tricolour at their homes, offices, and educational institutions and participate in the Independence Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, police openly invited the public to the Independence Day celebrations, expecting enthusiastic public participation.
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