World's-largest Indian flag part of Sears Centre fest
A new festival in Hoffman Estates celebrating Indian heritage will feature the world's largest Indian flag.
Event organizer Monty Saiyed of Bartlett sees the flag is a symbol of peace and harmony, noting some of the religious conflicts within India between Hindus and Muslims. For him, the flag represents unity, as worshippers of both faiths live peacefully in America.
“Nowhere else could you represent another country in this big of a manner and give the message of peace,” event organizer Monty Saiyed said. “You can't do that in another country, believe me; no one would allow you.”
The plan is to drape the banner, which stretches 153 by 102 feet, across the outside of the Sears Centre Arena July 16 and 17 during the Vibrant India festival, which will feature music and displays chronicling the history of India. Saiyed invites anyone with interest in learning about India to attend the event.
But because of the flag's size and weight of 500 pounds, there are logistical issues with how the orange, white and green banner — known as a tricolor — will be displayed. The circular logo in the middle is called the Ashokachakra.
Ben Gibbs, the Sears Centre's general manager, said he may need cranes to fly the flag because it's taller than the building. If that doesn't work, officials may place a tarp on the ground and lay the flag outside on the parking lot with a fence around it.
“It's one more interesting show in our diverse range of shows,” Gibbs said of Vibrant India.
It's also the first and only time the flag will be displayed in America. It will return to India after the festival.
It took a tailor and six assistants 18 days earlier this year to sew the cotton flag in India. The record for largest flag was certified by India's own standard, called The Limca Book of Records, named after the lemon-lime soda made in India by Coca-Cola Co.
It was unfurled earlier in May for an event at a cricket stadium in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Dignitaries, including Neelam Parikh, great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, were on hand.
It took about eight hours to unfurl. Handlers were careful not to tear the flag, but at the same time obey the country's code for handling the banner. It's similar to America where a flag isn't allowed to touch the ground. Saiyed said a tarp was placed on the ground so the flag would rest on that, instead of the grass.
Saiyed credited Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod for his support, saying he backed the event from the start while some communities may have been reluctant to allow a public display.
McLeod said he didn't see a problem with the festival, or the flag.
“People have flags from their backgrounds all over the place,” he said. “There are Scottish, Irish, Polish, Italian.”
McLeod added that the flag will be an attention grabber and should draw well, noting the village and region's surging Indian and Pakistani population. Asians make up 22.7 percent of Hoffman Estates' population, according to the 2010 census.
The event will feature some of the most popular singers in Indian entertainment. Singer Vivek Oberoi will headline. Other performers include Manhar Udhas, Shweta Pandit, and Preeti and Pinky. Bhoomi Trivedi, a contestant from “Indian Idol,” will also perform.
Inside the Sears Centre, patrons will see displays sharing the history of India, dividing the country by region.
Admission is $5 per day and parking is free. For more information, go to myvibrantindia.com.
For the record, the world's largest flag is 202,823 square feet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The Israeli flag weighs 11,464 pounds.