SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Aug 12: The summer capital of Srinagar witnessed an unprecedented wave of patriotism on Tuesday as thousands of residents—men, women, and children—took to the streets in the grand Tiranga Yatra, turning the city into a vibrant sea of saffron, white, and green. Once a rare sight in the Valley, the public display of the Indian Tricolour has now grown into a people’s movement, symbolising a powerful shift in sentiment and sowing seeds of unity and belonging.
For Mohammad Rafiq, a shopkeeper in Lal Chowk, the day was more than just a celebration. “For years, we hesitated to openly celebrate the Tricolour. Fear and uncertainty held us back,” he said, his voice quivering with emotion. “But today, my children hold it with pride. This flag is ours, just as much as it belongs to any other Indian.”
The Tiranga Yatra is part of a broader wave of patriotic events, including Tiranga Melas, concerts, and bike rallies, each resonating strongly with the Valley’s youth. Nasir Abdullah, a college student, described walking in the rally as “goosebump-inducing.” “It’s not just a piece of cloth—it’s a symbol that binds us. Whether from Jammu or Kashmir, we stand together under this flag,” he said.
Abdul Rashid, a veteran schoolteacher from South Kashmir who has lived through decades of unrest, observed a generational change. “I’ve seen conflict divide us. But today’s youth? They see only possibility. When they hold the Tiranga, I don’t just see a flag—I see the future of J&K,” he remarked.
For Ayesha Khan, a Class 10 student from Ganderbal, the connection to the flag became personal after she participated in a Tiranga stitching workshop. “Every thread felt like I was weaving my own story into India’s,” she said with a smile. “It’s not just fabric—it’s our identity, our shared history.”
The celebrations extended beyond marches. Muzamil, an NCC cadet, recalled the Tiranga Bike Rally as “electrifying.” “Riding through Srinagar with the Tricolour fluttering behind me—it was surreal. We’re not just remembering history; we’re creating it,” he said.
Local artists and entrepreneurs also joined the festivities. Painter Asif Bhat described the Tiranga as “a canvas for all of us,” adding, “Today, Kashmir is painting its future in the colors of unity.”
The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, urges citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes from August 2 to 15 to mark India’s 75th year of independence. Integrated into the campaign is a cleanliness drive with the message, “Cleanliness is Service.”
Across the Union Territory, streets came alive with vibrant displays of patriotism as residents, students, and officials marched shoulder-to-shoulder in grand rallies, their voices echoing chants of unity. With the Tricolour dancing in the breeze, the Valley sent a powerful message—that Kashmir’s story is no longer only of conflict, but of colours, hope, and togetherness.
