PM Modi Marks Independence Day 2025 In Saffron Turban: Tracing A Decade Of His Iconic Headgear

Last Updated:August 15, 2025, 08:37 IST

PM Modi chose saffron this year for its deep cultural symbolism. A look back at the colours, patterns, and meanings behind his Independence Day turbans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort. (PMO India)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the historic ramparts of the Red Fort was marked, as always, by his carefully chosen headgear — this year, a vibrant saffron turban. Paired with a white kurta–churidar, a saffron bandhgala jacket, and a tricolour stole, it was more than just a style statement.

In Indian culture, saffron holds deep significance. It symbolises courage, sacrifice, renunciation, and the pursuit of truth. In the political imagination, it is tied to the spirit of nationalism and the values of unity and selfless service.

By choosing saffron for the 79th Independence Day, PM Modi sent a message that was both rooted in tradition and forward-looking: a call for resilience, unity, and dedication to building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Before the ceremony, he greeted the nation with a message on X: “Wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day. May this day inspire us to keep working even harder to realise the dreams of our freedom fighters and build a Viksit Bharat. Jai Hind."

A Visual Tradition In The Making

Since 2014, PM Modi’s Independence Day turbans have evolved into a tradition in themselves, a visual highlight of the celebrations that garners as much attention as the speech itself. The fabrics, colours, and patterns he chooses often draw from different regions of India, showcasing the country’s textile diversity while embedding each year’s look with symbolic meaning.

2024 – The Desert Wind Waves Of Rajasthan

Last year, PM Modi chose a vibrant Rajasthani leheriya-print turban in orange, yellow, and green, worn with a white kurta–churidar and a blue jacket. The leheriya technique, a traditional tie-dye method from Rajasthan, produces wave-like patterns that are said to mimic the shifting sands and winds of the desert.

2023 – Bandhani In Full Bloom

In 2023, his headgear was a vivid Rajasthani bandhani-print turban in shades of yellow, orange, violet, green, and red. Bandhani, created by intricate tie-and-dye processes, is centuries old and associated with auspicious occasions and celebration in western India.

2022 – A Tricolour For ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’

The 2022 turban directly echoed the national flag. White and green stripes interlaced with saffron bands formed a headpiece that doubled as a tribute to the government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, which encouraged every household to hoist the tricolour. It was a literal wearing of the flag’s symbolism — purity and peace in white, faith and chivalry in saffron, and fertility and growth in green.

2021 – A Saffron Base With A Pink Trail

In 2021, Modi wore a saffron turban with a flowing pink trail, teamed with a white kurta, blue jacket, and white scarf. Pink, in Indian tradition, often represents warmth and approachability, perhaps reflecting a desire to project optimism as the nation emerged from the worst phases of the pandemic.

2020 – Pandemic-Era Practicality

The pandemic year saw Modi adapt his attire to the times. He chose a saffron and cream turban, paired with a white scarf edged in saffron that also served as a protective face covering. The muted cream balanced the vibrancy of saffron, while the scarf’s dual purpose reflected the year’s unique challenges — resilience amid caution.

2019 – A Multicoloured Celebration Of Craft

For 2019, Prime Minister Modi opted for a multicoloured turban with neat pleats on one side, paired with a stole featuring a vibrant border. The deliberate mix of colours and the craftsmanship in pleating highlighted India’s artisanal heritage. It was a visual metaphor for unity in diversity — many colours, one fabric, one identity.

2018 – The Power Of Saffron Simplicity

The 2018 look featured a saffron turban with red patterns, paired with an all-white outfit and a stole with an intricate dark border. The solid saffron was a bold, uncomplicated statement of patriotism, while the red accents added depth, symbolising energy and strength.

2017 – Festive Reds And Yellows

In 2017, Modi wore a bright turban combining red and yellow, with golden crisscross lines and a mix of traditional and geometric patterns. Red and yellow are both auspicious colours in Indian culture. Together, they signal celebration, warmth, and cultural pride.

2016 – The Tie-And-Dye Brightness

The 2016 choice was a pink-and-yellow tie-and-dye turban, with the colours blending in soft transitions. This lighter, more playful palette contrasted with previous years’ bolder choices, lending a festive and approachable look.

2015 – Crisscross In Yellow

In 2015, PM Modi’s turban was yellow with multicoloured crisscross patterns. Yellow symbolises optimism and clarity, while the intersecting lines suggested connectedness, a theme resonant with his messages on unity and cooperative federalism that year.

2014 – The Fiery Red Debut

For his first Independence Day as Prime Minister, PM Modi chose a fiery red Jodhpuri bandhej turban. Bandhej, a traditional tie-dye from Rajasthan and Gujarat, is worn at significant ceremonies. Red, the colour of strength and determination, made for a memorable debut statement on the national stage.

A Cultural Emblem Beyond Fashion

Over the past decade, PM Modi’s Independence Day turbans have grown into a visual ritual that combines personal style with national identity. They are not chosen at random, each colour, weave, and pattern carries deliberate cultural and symbolic weight. From Rajasthan’s leheriya to the tricolour stripes of a national campaign, these turbans have mirrored the Prime Minister’s messaging for the year while honouring India’s diverse traditions.

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August 15, 2025, 08:37 IST

News india PM Modi Marks Independence Day 2025 In Saffron Turban: Tracing A Decade Of His Iconic Headgear

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