Prime Minister Modi wears saffron turban for his 12th Independence Day speech from the Red Fort

On the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore his signature style and symbolism. He donned a stunning saffron turban for his 12th consecutive address to the nation from the historic Red Fort.

Wearing a white kurta-churidar, Modi completed his outfit with a saffron bandhgala jacket and a tricolor stole, continuing a tradition of making bold sartorial statements on Independence Day.

Over the years, the prime minister’s choice of headgear has become a visual feature of his annual speech at the Red Fort. Each year, his turban reflects both cultural heritage and a message of unity.

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In 2024, Modi wore a saffron turban – bold and simple – highlighting national pride. In 2023, he wore a vibrant Rajasthani leheriya turban in orange, yellow and green, symbolizing celebration and tradition.

In 2022, he chose a yellow, green and red bandhani print, paired with a black V-neck jacket. For 2021, a saffron turban with red patterns and a flowing tail stood out against a blue jacket and stole.

During the 2020 pandemic, Modi adapted his attire to the times, using a white scarf with saffron trim as a face covering.

His first Independence Day as prime minister in 2014 featured a bright red Jodhpuri bandhej turban.

Subsequent years brought vibrant variations: a yellow and multi-colored turban in 2015, a pink-yellow tie-dye in 2016, and a bold red-yellow mix in 2017.

In 2018, an all-saffron turban made a strong visual statement.

Ahead of the celebrations at the Red Fort, Modi extended his greetings to the nation via X (formerly Twitter), calling for collective efforts towards a developed India. “I wish everyone a very happy Independence Day. May this day inspire us to continue working even harder to realize the dreams of our freedom fighters and build a Viksit Bharat. Jai Hind,” he wrote.