The saffron flag (Bhagawa Dhwaja in Hindi) is the official flag of Hinduism. It looks like two tilted triangles meeting each other in the mid. Sometimes, it is embossed in a golden border, though not necessarily. It is fixed at the top of a wooden or metal stick. It is also called Jaripataka in Marathi. The flag was the official flag of the Maratha Kingdom in India. It has also been used as an official flag in many Hindu kingdoms, and different emblems like the sun, wheel, om, or images of Hindu gods are printed on it.

The saffron flag is one of the most important symbols for Hindus. The saffron color symbolizes sacrifice and/or renunciation. The sacrifice is of great importance in Hinduism. The sacrifice for your nation, family, religion, and humanity is a necessary virtue in a man’s life. Hence, the saffron-colored flag might have been used by ancient Hindus.

Hindus hoist it during many religious processions. Some Hindus hoist it on the top of their homes.

Another reason behind it might be that, as many jungles and lush green trees once inhabited India, the saffron-colored flag could also be recognized from afar. Every Hindu temple has a saffron flag on its apex or a nearby tree. Therefore, it helps recognize the human presence nearby from a distance. The red color is also recognized from a distance, but red also attracts danger. Therefore, it is wiser to use saffron color in the jungle.

It is also the official flag of Sikhs. The background color of the flag on which the Sikh emblem is printed is saffron.

It is the official flag of Shiv Sena, a political party in Maharashtra. RSS and many other Hindu organizations also use it as their official flag.