The Buddhist flag

The Buddhist flag is hoisted in the homes of Buddhists and Buddhist institutions on Vesak Poya Day. This has been the practice since the historic Vesak Poya in 1885 when it was first hoisted. April 28, 1885 was the first Vesak that was declared a public holiday.

However, the flag that flutters in temple grounds, schools and homes now, is not the same as the one hoisted on that historic Vesak Poya Day.

The flag that was designed by a committee chaired by Ven. Hikkaduwa Sumangala Thera, head of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, was narrow and long. Colonel Henry Steel Olcott said the dimensions were wrong and not in keeping with international standards.

Hence, on Colonel Olcott's advice, the flag was redesigned to standard proportions - the width must always be a definite part of its length. The re-designed flag was hoisted on the following Vesak Poya Day in 1886 and it is this same flag that Buddhists hoist today.

The committee that was responsible for designing the flag chose the colours - Budu Res, the rays emanating from the Buddha's body since His Enlightenment. The rays were blue, yellow, red, white and orange - neela, peetha, lohitha, odatha and maanjesta - and these merged as they spread out to form a halo round Him. Hence the last stripe in the flag has five squares of the colours, to indicate the outer colour of the halo which is called pabassara. The flag is referred to as the Shadvarna flag - the six coloured flag. Shad is six in Pali and varna in Sanskrit is colour.

The original flag designed in 1885

The flag committee hoped that this flag would be hoisted in every Buddhist’s home, shop and institution on every Vesak Poya Day.

The Shadvarna flag flutters on flag poles in temples, schools and on roads during Buddhist festivals and ceremonies such as Pirith chanting or Katina ceremonies or special poojas.

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