New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the 79th Independence Day with his trademark style, wearing a saffron turban for his 12th consecutive address to the nation from the historic Red Fort. He paired a white kurta and churidar with a saffron bandhgala jacket and a tricolour stole.
Over the years, Modi’s Independence Day turbans have become a visual tradition. Last year, he wore a vibrant Rajasthani leheriya turban in shades of orange, yellow, and green — a nod to tradition and a tribute to India’s rich cultural heritage. In 2023, he chose a bandhani print in yellow, green, and red, paired with a black V-neck jacket. In 2022, he sported a saffron turban with red motifs and a flowing tail, complemented by a blue jacket and stole.
In 2021, a cream and saffron turban matched his half-sleeved kurta, while in 2020, amid the pandemic, he wore a white scarf edged in saffron as a protective face covering. His first Independence Day as prime minister in 2014 featured a fiery red Jodhpuri bandhej turban. Subsequent years showcased a kaleidoscope of colours — from a yellow and multicoloured crisscross turban in 2015, a pink-yellow tie-and-dye version in 2016, to a bold red and yellow design in 2017. In 2018, saffron alone made a striking statement.
Before his Red Fort address, Modi extended greetings to the nation and called on citizens to work harder toward a developed India. “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,” he posted on X.
