"Flag Costumes & Bikinis" - Flagging Spirit or Flagging Down Sacred Symbols ?

"Our problem is we take ourselves too seriously. Not only does our dispensation impose patriotism, it defines, redefines and dos-and-don'ts it too. Now it is illegal for the common Indian to fly the Tricolour atop his roof, now it's not...... Now you get sued for wearing the National Flag at a fashion show, now you can wear it as long as it's not below the waist (belt)....."  writes Viny Mishra, The Times of India (August 27,2005).

 During 1960-70s, it was compulsory to play the National Anthem Flag Film, now it's not.

"Festival of USSR" - an old Russian Picture Postcard (PPC), no fuss was made then about the positioning of the Indian National Flag along with several other national flags painted (below the waist) on the gown of the woman

Indian Flag Code (Don'ts) stipulates "No Flag below the belt".

There was a huge furors in India some couple of years back when an Indian television anchor covering the World Cup Cricket final match appeared on the screen donned a sari featuring the flags of the participating countries in which the Indian Tricolour was placed in an offending position.  

Predecessors of the bikini date toantiquity, in Çatalhöyük and the Greco-Roman world.  Art dating from the Diocletian period (286–305 AD) in Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily depicts women in skimpy garments resembling bikinis in mosaics on the floor. The images of ten women, dubbed the "Bikini Girls", exercising in clothing that would pass as bikinis today are the most replicated mosaic among the 37 million colored tiles at the site (source; Wikipedia)

Gilded statue of Roman Goddess Venus found in Pompeii, currently in the Museo Archeologico in Naples.(wikipedia)

Micheline Bernardini wearing the first modern bikini, 1946. which caused a sensation at a beauty contest at the Molitor swimming pool in Paris. Designer Louis Reard was unable to find a 'respectable' model for his costume and the job of displaying it went to 19-year-old Micheline Bernardini, a nude dancer from the Casino de Paris. She is holding a small box into which the entire costume can be packed. Celebrated as the first modern bikini. (wikipedia)

It is strange to see the British-India blue ensign (?) in the poster in place of Free India's Tricolour - the orange-white-green.Third row from the top at extreme left. India were invited in 1950 Jules Rimet Cup (World Cup) Football Tournament, but did not participate, due to inadequate foreign exchange reserves, the long journey by ship and the problem of bare-footed players.

Uruguay, 1951

 

Japan, 2010

No Indian flag on the socks above.

 

 

Great Britain (from where most of our laws have been evolved or adapted) has no Flag Code at all and there are some people of other countries who are horrified at the familiar way with which the British treat their Flag, the Union Jack.

In the United States, one of the most commonly ignored and misunderstood aspects of the Flag Code is section 8. "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery." Section 3 of the Flag Code  defines a flag for the purposes of the code. It clarifies the definition to include any picture or representation of the flag purporting to be of the flag of the United States of America. Therefore T-shirts, or other apparel made of or containing a representation of the flag are in violation of the code.

Although the Flag Code is U.S. Federal law, it is only binding on government institutions displaying the flag: there is no penalty for a private citizen or group failing to comply with the Flag Code and it is not widely enforced—indeed, punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech Flag Desecration Amendment would overrule legal precedent that has been established.

  

Mark Spitz in his Flag Speedo

(http://people.edu.ms/keyword/mark%20spitz%20poster)

Mark Andrew Spitz  (USA) won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

(http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/beachvolleyball/blogs/blog=beachvolleyballblog/postid=225231.html)
 
 

Peruvian model and dancer Leysi Suarez, in order to celebrate the 187th anniversary of Peru's independence from Spain, rode naked astride a beautiful brown horse wearing nothing but a look of stern patriotic pride - and using the Peruvian flag as a saddle. But instead of acclaim and adulation, Leysi faced political uproar and criminal charges for modelling on the provocative cover of DFarandula magazine."I haven't committed a crime!" Leysi protested. "I love Peru and show it with my body and soul!".

  

Aussie flag burnt in India over bikini controversy

10 May, 2011

Australian swimwear brand Lisa Blue has pulled bikinis bearing the image of Hindu goddess Lakshmi out of production after protesters in India burnt the Australian flags in response to the garments.

 Singapore Polo Team's Trunks "Inappropriate" !!!!!!!! 

Singapore rebuked its national water polo team for wearing swim trunks that feature a likeness of the city-state's flag. 

The trunks, which were designed by members of the men's team in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, show the flag's white crescent moon jutting up from the groin area with five stars to the side on a red background.

"Unfortunately the team did not seek our advice on the use of the crescent moon and stars when they designed their swim trunks," the Information Ministry said in a statement. "We would have told them that their design is inappropriate as we want elements of the flag to be treated with dignity."

The ministry, which normally evaluates the use of the flag on uniforms on a case-by-case basis, declined to specify which part of the design was objectionable.

The trunks sparked a controversy in the local media and on Internet message boards, with some offended by the use of the national flag while others were amused at the furor.

Source: http://pul.se/Singapore-Polo-Teams-Trunks-Inappropriate_News-ba2xjvhNKIR,9yCL9hNSqEaE

At the F(L)AG End let's see what more is stored for us !!! 

Nine Australians jailed in Malaysia for 'flag underpants' stunt. http://www.smh.com.au/world/nine-australians-jailed-in-malaysia-for-flag-underpants-stunt-20161003-grtziu.html

 Nine Australian revelers at Malaysia's Formula One racing circuit have been jailed after stripping down to reveal "underpants" featuring Malaysia's national flag.

 

The first look of the poster of the Hindi movie ‘Dirty Politics’ made it to the news in 2015. It showed the actress sitting on top of a government car against the backdrop of the Rajasthan State Legislative Assembly wearing nothing but a drapery imitating the tricolours of the Indian NF.

'Dirty Politics' - a movie allegedly based on the Bhanwari Devi murder and rape case in which a former Congress Minister was convicted. High Courts in Hyderabad and Patna issued notices to the actress and the film’s producer on PILs against the obscene use of the Indian Tricolour. It was alleged that they had intentionally insulted the National flag.

Animals on Flags

Fierce Animals on National flags signify “A country’s strength, its priority on defence and on occasions generosity too”. 
Amongst the animals depicted on flags, perhaps, the Lion is the most widely used animal symbol on flags. The Lion is regarded as the symbol of Authority & Command, Power & Dignity, Justice & Wisdom, Ferocity & Courage, and finally The Lion is also regarded as the king of beasts. 
 

 The flag of the Repùblica Vèneta or Repùblica de Venesia (Republic of Venice) - a state originating from the city of Venice in North-eastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice (Serenìsima Repùblica Vèneta) and is often referred to as La Serenissima.

 The winged Lion of St. Mark, which had appeared on the Republic's flag and coat of arms, is still featured in the red-yellow flag of the city of Venice (which has six tails, one for each sestier of the city), in the coat of arms of the city and in the yellow-red-blue flag of Veneto (which has seven tails representing the seven provinces of the region).

The winged lion also appears in the naval ensign of the Italian Republic, alongside the coat of arms of three other medieval Italian maritime republics (Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi), as well as the Golden Lion, awarded at the Venice Film Festival, and in the insignia of the Assicurazioni Generali insurance company.
St Mark, represented as a lion, is a typical Christian iconography derived from the prophetic visions contained in the verse of the Apocalypse of St John 4: 7. The lion is one of the four living creatures described in the book as a place around the throne of the Almighty and they are chosen as symbols of the four evangelists. These "beings" were previously described by the prophet Ezekiel.(Source: Wikipedia).

 

 Lion of Babylon on the Iranian (formerly Persia) Flag. It is claimed that the Lion and Sun Emblem has 8000 years old roots dating back to the very first Persian Civilization of Shush. According to legends, The lion was the symbol of the goddess Ishtar.

 Lion of Judah on former Ethiopian (Abyssinia) Flag which was also the symbol of Emperor Haile Selassie .

 Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) always placed the lion on her flags adopted from Sinhala Rajakiva Dhajya of the last king of Kandi. Lion on the Sri Lanka’s flag dates from 6th. century B.C. 

 India's National emblem, the Sarnath Lion -capital, a great master-piece of  3rd century BC plastic art, there are four lions mounted back to back .(Only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view).The frieze of the abacus adorned with relief sculptures of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion. The Lion stands for Sakyasingha, the great roar of the lion heard when Buddha turned the "Wheel of Law" to preach to the world the great wisdom that he had dawned on him under the Bodhi tree.

 The lion, with such repute of its noble nature and having the position and title of king of the beasts, is one of the most common heraldic symbols in Europe.

 Hunydi family flag (15th. century), Hungary.

 The Red Lion in white background, symbolising León  

On occasion of the commemoration of the 1100 Anniversary of the Foundation of the Kingdom of León, issued within the Historic Events series of Spain, a souvenir sheet was launched illustrated with a map of the Iberian Peninsula from 910 and the borders of the kingdom of Leon. At the front appears a stamp in the shape of the banner of the crown of León with a passant lion. 

 Bulgaria places a golden lion rampant on the top white stripe

 Paraguay's flag has two different emblems on the obverse and reverse sides. On the reverse side of the Paraguay seal shows the lion on the sea guarding the Phrygian Cap symbolizes the defence of liberty.

 

 Several former British Colonies placed the British Lion (taken from the British Coat-of-Arms) on their flags.

 

 In 1929 H L Richardson of Wellington was appointed to design a new set of Duty (Revenue) stamps of New Zealand. His design incorporated the New Zealand's Coat of Arms. However, Richardson, depicted his own interpretation of the subject, which varied considerably from the version authorised by Royal Warrant in 1911. An error was also made in the design whereby the New Zealand flag is depicted instead of the Union Jack. 

 The British Lion and Chinese Dragon could be seen as the flanking supporters on the coat of arms emblazoned on the colonial Ensign of Hong Kong .

 The Dragon on Bhutan’s flag honours the people’s name of the country Druk-Yul (The land of the Thunder Dragon) .The flag is based upon the tradition of the Drupka lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. 

The first flag was made by Mayom Choying Wangpo Dorgi and was introduced in 1949 during the signing of the Indo-Bhutanese Treaty. 
The flag went many changes. The present flag was standardized in 1972. The wingless white dragon, in its claws the Dragon grasps jewels, standing for national wealth and the embrangling mouth of the Dragon represents the strength of the male and female deities, protecting the country.

 The Red Dragon “Y Ddraig Goch” Adorns Wales Flag. It was probably first used in 1401 by Owen Glendower.

  Tiger is another fierce animal and appeared on many flags representing powerful energy. In many Asian countries, the Tiger is considered the 'king of all beasts' (not the lion). 

 The ‘Springing tiger’ on the flag of the Indian National Army (INA) reflects the strength of the Indian people and their will to fight for freedom and for the country’s defence. The above never issued stamps were officially printed in 1943 at Reichsdruckerei, Berlin for the Nationales Indien (Indische Legion). 
(Note; These stamps were prepared for use in Free India but the plan failed due to set back of Azad Hind Army's campaign in the War)

 An Indian official stamp issued in 1968 to commemorate 25th. Anniversary of INA.

The flag of the federated Malaya States (1905-1946) represented the union of the four Malay states of  Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in a federation as a protectorate under the British Crown. The flag was striped white over red over yellow over black. In the centre was a leaping Malayan tiger (Harimau Malaya). The coat-of-arms had two rampant tigers supporting the shield.

 Three Headed Elephant was the emblem of the erstwhile, Kingdom of Laos, the land of the Million Elephants (Muong Lan Xan Hom Khao)

 The black and white stripes of the flag symbolize the racial harmony of the Botswana’s Tswana people (formerly, British protectorate of Bechuanaland), as well as the pluralist nature of the society. The stripes are inspired by the ‘Zebra’, the national animal of Botswana. 

 The leopard's face on Bophuthatswana flag is symbolic of the authority necessary to lead the people to the development of their potential. Leopards are traditional symbols of authority for the Tswana people. The flag was taken into use on 19 April 1973 after the homeland achieved internal self-government on 01 June 1972. This flag is no longer in use.
Bophuthatswana was one of the "independent" homelands having been granted independence by South Africa in 1977. All the former South African Homelands/Bantustans ceased to exist as political entities in  1994 Bophuthatswana have been reincorporated into South Africa.    

 
The boar’s tusk in the black triangle of Vanuatu (formerly, New Hebrides) flag, symbolic of wealth and prosperity

 The California's state flag is based on a design dating from 1846, when California settlers declared independence from Mexico. The Grizzly Bear symbolizes strength. Snapshot art depicts a coastal area in central California Historic Bear Flag raised at Sonora in  1846, by a group of American settlers in revolt against Mexican rule. The flag was designed by William Todd. The star imitated the 'Lone Star' of Texas.  [Source: California Blue Book.]

The bear on the current flag of California was modeled on the last wild Californian grizzly bear in captivity. The bear, named "Monarch", was captured in 1889. The bear was subsequently moved to Woodwards Gardens in San Francisco, and then to the zoo at Golden Gate Park. After the bear's death in 1911, it was mounted and preserved at the Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park 

 An alpaca standing next to a tree and some wheat. The alpaca stands on a plain that contrasts with the mountain. The alpaca is the national animal of Bolivia, and the items next to it are symbolic of the resources of the nation. Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South American Camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance. 

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