Ranchi, Aug. 15: The Indian National Flag was hoisted 2,140ft above sea level atop Ranchi Hill today at Pahari Mandir, which was once known as Phansi Tongri, where freedom fighters were hanged by the British.
Pahari Mandir is the only temple in the country to continue with the 69-year-old tradition of hoisting the National Flag, which was started in the intervening night of August 14 and 15, 1947.
The Tricolour was hoisted at 7am today by city-based social worker and senior member of Ranchi Pahari Mandir Vikas Samiti Prem ShankerChoudhary after the morning prayers, two hours before the official state function began at Morabadi ground.
A sevak of Pahari Baba, Sunil Kumar, popularly known as Sheru ji, said the Independence Day function at the temple, which lasted for half-an-hour, witnessed a gathering of around 200 devotees of Lord Shiva.
"Devotees sung the national anthem and vowed to protect the unity and integrity of the state. After the flag hoisting, sweets and chocolates were distributed," he said.
Ranchi sub-divisional officer Amit Kumar, who is ex-officio president of the samiti, said that Pahari Mandir was the only temple in the country where the Tricolour was hoisted on Republic Day and Independence Day.
"This place has special significance as it was the place where British rulers used to hang India's freedom fighters. The place is also known as Phansi Tongri (hill for hanging)," said Kumar.
Ritesh Chand Gupta, president of the cyber committee of the Pahari Mandir samiti, said that they were planning to build a 210-metre-long flagpole. "If this materialises, our National Flag will be at the highest mast in the world," he said.
Gupta said elders often reminisced about the midnight when India was declared independent. A large procession was taken out from century-old Ram Mandir in Chutia to the hilltop, covering a distance of 4km, and the National Flag was hoisted.
Choudhary (60), who is also a businessman, said it was for the 20th time that he had unfurled the Indian Flag at the temple.
"Being a senior member of the samiti, I get this opportunity every year. I will be ever grateful to the Lord, who gives me strength to climb the hill," he said.
