Google Doodle with kites symbolizes great heights achieved by India in 75 years

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Google on Monday, August 15, 2022, India-time, displayed a doodle on its search page to celebrate India’s 75th anniversary of Independence. It shows India celebrating  with soaring kites symbolizing the country has achieved great heights.

Independence Day 2022 Doodle “depicts the culture around kites – from the craft of creating bright beautiful kites to the cheerful experience of a community coming together.

The vast expanse of sky brightly speckled with soaring kites is a colorful symbol of the great heights we have achieved. The GIF animation adds dynamism and brings the doodle alive.

In its introduction to the new doodle, Google said, “The lengthy struggle for freedom resulted in the birth of the largest democracy in the world. Heroic freedom fighters, such as Mahatma Gandhi, led the country’s independence movement through civil disobedience and nonviolent protests. On August 15, 1947, the Indian national flag was raised for the first time at the Red Fort in Delhi.”

The biggest annual celebration takes place at the Red Fort in Delhi, where the Prime Minister raises the saffron, white and green national flag in synchronization with a 21-gun salute. After the Prime Minister delivers his televised speech, a patriotic parade honors members of the Indian armed forces and police.

“People also celebrate by flying kites—a longstanding symbol of independence. Indian revolutionaries once flew kites with slogans to protest British rule. Since then, recreational and competitive kite flying have become one of Independence Day’s most popular traditions. Indians also commemorate the day by spending time with loved ones and hosting cultural programmes in neighborhoods and schools,” Google noted.

Sharing his thought about the Doodle, artist Neethi said that one of our fondest memories, the age-old tradition of kite-flying has been integral to the Indian Independence Day festivities.

Freedom fighters used kites to write anti-colonial slogans and flew them in the sky as a mark of protest.

Asked what was the creative process behind his doodle, Neethi is quoted saying, “One of our fondest memories, the age-old tradition of kite-flying has been integral to the Indian Independence Day festivities. My artwork depicts the culture around kites- from the craft of creating bright beautiful kites to the cheerful experience of a community coming together. The vast expanse of sky brightly speckled with soaring kites is a colorful symbol of the great heights we have achieved. The GIF animation adds dynamism and brings the doodle alive.”
The government of India organized several events this year under the banner of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav,’ with the theme ‘Nation First, Always First.’ Plans include hoisting 200 million tricolors to commemorate the occasion.

The Red Fort in Delhi hosts the largest annual celebration, where the Prime Minister raises the tricolor in synchronization with a 21-gun salute. After the Prime Minister delivers his televised speech, a patriotic parade honors members of the Indian armed forces and police.

When asked if he draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle and if there are specific elements of the artwork that have symbolic meaning, Neethi said, “Kites are also an outlet for artistic expression- many of them carry trendy motifs or even social messages. I have drawn kites depicting our national colours, a message of love and commemorating the 75 years of Indian independence. They fly as high as skyscrapers, and birds and I’d like to believe the sun!”