National Symbols of India with Pictures
Some Lesser Known National Symbols of India 10
National symbols are icons that are commonly associated with a country. It is representative of the nation’s history, flora and fauna, history, identity and people. They symbolise the nation’s strength, culture, and occupation, and serve as a source of inspiration to the country’s people. National symbols serve as a source of national pride and sense of common identity. India’s national symbols provide the association and relatability with the region. We will discuss the national symbols of India in this blog.
India’s National Anthem is ‘Jana Gana Mana’. It was composed by Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali. On 24th January 1950, the Hindi version was adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem. The complete song consists of five stanzas and the first stanza contains the full version of the National Anthem.
The Indian National Song, Vande Mataram is a Sanskrit song composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay as part of his famous novel “Anand Math” (1882). The first president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad made a statement in the Constituent Assembly, "the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it."
The Indian National Flag is a tricolour with three horizontal stripes and a navy blue wheel at the centre. The three stripes are coloured- Saffron, white and green. The colour saffron represents strength and courage, white represents peace and truth, and green symbolises prosperity, fertility and growth. The blue wheel is the Ashoka Chakra or Dharma Chakra. The wheel has been adopted from the Ashoka Stambh in Sarnath. The National Flag was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 22nd July 1947.
The state emblem has been adapted from the Sarnath Lion. The emblem has four lions facing all four directions, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying the sculptures in high relief of a bull, an elephant, a lion and a galloping horse. These are separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. The words “Satyamev Jayate” are inscribed at the bottom. The original sculpture has been carved out of a single block of polished sandstone.
India’s national bird is the peacock, Pavo Cristatus. It is a swan-sized blue-coloured bird with a fan-shaped crest of feathers and a long, slender neck. The male species are more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and a bronze-green tail with 200 elongated feathers. The peacock does an elaborate courting dance where the fans out his tail and preen his feathers to attract the peahen’s attention.
The Royal Bengal tiger is India’s national animal. It presents a unique combination of strength, agility, grace and enormous power. The majestic beast is found in all parts of India except the hot deserts regions of West India and Trans-Himalayan region of the North. Once an endangered species threatened by extinction, the number of Royal Bengal tigers has risen to over 3100 as per the last census of 2023. India has 50 tiger reserves across the country that are governed by strict Wildlife Protection Laws.
The banyan tree (Ficus Bengalensis) was declared India's national tree in 1988. It grows across India and represents faith and eternal life. The banyan tree has strong roots and has unique significance in Indian mythology and Hindu religion. The oldest banyan tree in the world is 250 years old and located near Kolkata. It spans an area of 3.5 acres. The banyan tree is called the “Kalpa Vriksha” or the “Tree of Wish Fulfilment”. Throughout India, the banyan tree marks the centre of village life, where the Village council meets or the local people gather to socialise.
Mango was declared as the Indian national fruit in 1950. The fruit grows widely across the country and every region grows varieties of mangoes that are unique to the region. Some famous varieties are Alphonso, Dasheri, Benisha, Totapuri, Baiganpalli, Malda, Kesar etc. Every variety has its unique smell, colour and taste. Mango depicts generosity, richness, and prosperity.
The lotus is India’s national flower. It holds a unique significance in Indian culture and grows in abundance in the water bodies of the country. The lotus flower grows in dirt but isn’t besmirched with stains. It holds prominent symbolism in Asian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Lotus figures prominently in ancient Indian art, architecture, and literature.
| Title | National Symbol | Images |
| National Currency | Indian Rupees |  |
| National Calendar | Saka Calendar |  |
| National River | Ganga |  |
| National Reptile | King Cobra |  |
| National Aquatic Animal | Ganges River Dolphin |  |
| National Vegetable | Pumpkin |  |
| National Heritage Animal | Asiatic Elephant |  |
The National symbols of India reflect India’s rich natural and cultural diversity. Every national symbol has special significance to India’s history, shared ideologies, lifestyle practices and interests. They foster pride and patriotism and give us a shared sense of accountability towards preserving the nation’s many gifts.
