Flags and Rose Petals

I got up early this morning. It was deeply overcast and as cool as I’ve ever seen it in Chennai. A notice had gone up the day before inviting all the residents of our building to meet on the roof at 9:00 AM sharp for the flag raising. Today is Indian Independence Day.

There were a dozen or more people already up there when we arrived. A candy-striped flagpole had been readied for the ceremony. Somebody had brought a tray of sweets. Someone else had contributed chairs, and a cassette player with a tape set to play the national anthem. More people arrived as we waited.

When the time came, the oldest resident of the building was afforded the honor of raising the flag. It was tied up loosely as in a bundle at the bottom of the pole. As the bundle then approached the top, a draw string was pulled, unfurling the flag. At the same time, red and pink rose petals (which had been wrapped up in the flag) were released. Thereafter, everyone stood and sang the Indian National Anthem in loud, clear voices. The cassette player was never used.

This simple, yet touching ceremony was repeated on rooftops throughout the country today. Last evening, one of the movie channels played Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi”.

Today, people came to fix our plumbing and service our ceiling fans. The cook and the maid arrived as usual. In addition, the car went in for major repairs. It’s a holiday but, apart from taking a few moments to celebrate the country at a flag raising, people seem to be gratefully engaged in the building of a proud nation.

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