On every Independence Day, as the Indian Tricolour rises over the Red Fort and countless other landmarks, its saffron, white, and green ripple against the monsoon sky.
But not a lot of people know that every official national flag unfurled on August 15, whether in Delhi, a school courtyard, or a soldier’s post, has only one place of origin: a small village in Karnataka.
That place is Bengeri, home to the Khadi and Village Industries Commission-licensed Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS). Located near Hubbali, it is the only ‘authorised’ flag manufacturing unit in India, entrusted with a responsibility that is both patriotic and precise. And it is mostly the women of KKGSS who make these flags with love.
Crafting The Indian Flag In Bengeri, Hubbali
The right to make the Indian National Flag is not given lightly. Under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, each flag must be made of hand-spun, handwoven khadi. Every thread must meet exacting standards, saffron for courage and sacrifice, white for peace and truth, green for faith and chivalry, and the navy-blue Ashoka Chakra with 24 evenly spaced spokes.
The KKGSS was founded in 1957 by freedom fighter Venkatesh Magadi, in line with Gandhian principles that focussed on self-reliance, revival of khadi and giving power to rural artisans. However, it was in 2006 that they got the official license to manufacture the Indian flag. The process starts in Tulasigeri, Karnataka, where hand-spun khadi is woven as per the Flag Code of India. The cloth then goes to KKGSS in Bengeri for dyeing, printing, stitching, and strict quality checks. Each flag follows BIS and Flag Code rules-a 3:2 ratio, 24 evenly spaced spokes on the Ashoka Chakra, and standardised saffron, white, and green shades. KKGSS makes nine official sizes, from desktop flags to those for government buildings.
There are a few other BIS-licensed units permitted to manufacture the Indian Standard-I (IS-I) flag, but KKGSS remains the only authorised manufacturer of the national flag. With demand surging each Republic Day and Independence Day, KKGSS workers often work around the clock in the weeks before August 15, ensuring every flag reaches its destination on time. In fact, the flag that is unfurled at the Red Fort is also made in this very village!
FAQs About Bengeri, Karnataka: The Only Place That Can Make India’s National Flag
1. Where is Bengeri located?
Bengeri is a small village in the city of Hubballi, in the Dharwad district of Karnataka, India.
2. Why is Bengeri the only place allowed to make the Indian National Flag?
Bengeri is home to the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS), the only unit in India licensed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to manufacture the Indian National Flag in accordance with the Flag Code of India.
3. What material is used to make the Indian flag in Bengeri?
Every official Tricolour made in Bengeri is crafted from hand-spun, handwoven khadi, as mandated by BIS specifications.
4. Who started the flag-making unit in Bengeri?
The KKGSS unit in Bengeri was established in 1957 to promote khadi and rural employment, and later became the sole licensed producer of the Indian National Flag.
5. How is the Indian flag made in Bengeri?
The flag is made through a meticulous process involving spinning khadi yarn on charkhas, dyeing it in saffron, white, and green, and adding the navy-blue Ashoka Chakra with perfect symmetry.
6. Can anyone buy an official Indian flag from Bengeri?
Yes, citizens can purchase official BIS-certified flags from KKGSS, especially during Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.