NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose a red and yellow striped ‘pagdi’ or ‘safa’ for his Republic-Day look on Sunday, pairing it with a brown bandhgala jacket and pocket square.
Modi’s selection of ‘pagadi’ for both Republic Day and the Independence Day continues to stand out as a symbol of India’s vibrant traditions and cultural diversity, resonating with the message of unity and pride in the nation’s heritage.
Flamboyant and colourful turbans have been a regular feature in the prime minister’s Independence Day and Republic Day looks. Last year, he chose a multi-coloured “bandhani” print safa for his Republic-Day look. Bandhani is a type of tie-dye textile popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The fabric is decorated by plucking the cloth with fingernails into many tiny bindings that form a figurative design.
In 2023 too, Modi wore a multi-coloured Rajasthani turban and complemented it with a pair of trousers and a kurta. Later that year, on the 77th Independence Day, he opted for a vibrant Rajasthani-style turban, with multiple colours and a lengthy tail.
In 2019, Modi sported a multi-coloured turban as he delivered his sixth Independence-Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, after returning to power for a second term with a thumping majority.
For his maiden Independence Day as prime minister in 2014, he had opted for a bright red Jodhpuri “bandhej” turban. In 2015, Modi chose a yellow turban covered with multi-coloured criss-cross lines, and a tie-and-dye turban in hues of pink and yellow in 2016.
The PM’s turban for 2017 was a mix of bright red and yellow with crisscrossed golden lines all over. He donned a saffron turban for his appearance at the Red Fort in 2018.
From a bright red “bandhani” turban from Kutch to a mustard Rajasthani ‘safa’, Modi’s eye-catching turbans have been a highlight of his R-Day appearances too. In 2022, Modi had chosen a unique traditional cap from Uttarakhand for the Republic-Day celebrations.
The cap also had a Brahma Kamal-inspired brooch. Brahma Kamal is Uttarakhand’s state flower, which the prime minister uses on every visit to Kedarnath.