With just a day to go for India&rsquo;s 68th Independence Day, flags are the flavour of the season. The saffron, white and green evokes a sudden surge of patriotism. Hemant Malpe likes to buy flags from children at signals in the city. He says, &ldquo;I feel bad for the children selling the flags and so buy it from them.
<img title="Preethi Pereira" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/aug/Preethi-Pereira.jpg" alt="Preethi Pereira" /> Preethi Pereira
I like sticking the flag showpiece on my car dashboard. When they get old I don&rsquo;t throw them away. I keep them along with the religious items. For me, patriotism and love for God are on par. So I treat the flag with the same respect that I treat God and religion.&rdquo;
<img title="Nikhil Mestry" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/aug/Nikhil-Mestry.jpg" alt="Nikhil Mestry" />
Preethi Pereira has been buying flags for the last five years every Independence Day and Republic Day. She says, &ldquo;I buy flags from the shop and give them to the children in my neighbourhood. I want them to develop a love for India and our flag. I even take flags to office and give them to my colleagues.
<img title="Shannen Castelino" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/aug/Shannen-Castelino.jpg" alt="Shannen Castelino" /> Shannen Castelino
I decorate my desk with the flags.&rdquo; Once the festivities are done, Pereira collects the flags and keeps them in a box. Thane resident Shannen Castelino buys the flag every January 26 or August 15 for her cousin brother. She says, &ldquo;The new styles of the flag enthrall my cousin. I try to get the latest model for him.
<img title="Hemant Malpe" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/aug/Hemant-Malpe.jpg" alt="Hemant Malpe" /> Hemant Malpe
Since he was little, he has had a love affair with the tricolour. I think it is positive, so I encourage it.&rdquo; The flag buying trend was started for Winston D&rsquo;silva by his mother. The Andheri resident says, &ldquo;When I was growing up my mother would always get a pin up flag for me and my siblings and ensure that we wore it with pride.
<img title="Winston D&rsquo;silva" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/aug/Winston-D-Silva.jpg" alt="Winston D&rsquo;silva" /> Winston D&rsquo;silva
I continue this tradition by buying my own flag as well as getting some extras for my friends. I want to spread the love for India on Independence Day or Republic Day.&rdquo; Nikhil Mestry opts to buy flags that are handmade by handicapped students.
He says, &ldquo;The cause is noble and the money helps them, so I always buy a few flags from them. Once the celebration is over I ensure that the flag isn&rsquo;t disrespected and keep it back safely at home.&rdquo; In this way, Mestry fulfils a two-pronged goal. &ldquo;Love for India and awareness of the flags made by the handicapped is spread through distribution to others,&rdquo; he ends.

With just a day to go for India&rsquo;s 68th Independence Day, flags are the flavour of the season. The saffron, white and green evokes a sudden surge of patriotism

I-Day special: How do you like to buy your flags?

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Home / Mumbai / Mumbai News / Article / I-Day special: How do you like to buy your flags?

I-Day special: How do you like to buy your flags?

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Ganeshotsav 2026