Consecration of President Droupadi Murmu’s Colour, a unique tradition

KOCHI: Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh priests, who are part of the Army, would consecrate the President’s Colour or Nishaan before President Droupadi Murmu awards it to INS Dronacharya on Thursday.
Cmde VZ Job, commanding officer of INS Dronacharya, said the consecration ceremony is a unique tradition carried out during the President’s Colour Award ceremony since it was first given to the Navy in 1951.As the Navy doesn’t have religious teachers in the service, they will be brought from the Army whenever the President’s Colour is awarded to a unit.
“Just before the Nishaan is presented to the unit by the President, all four religious teachers will march to the Colours and each of them will consecrate it with their respective prayers,” Cmde Job said.
While the Hindu priest will chant the prayers in Hindi, the Christian priest will chant in English, Muslim priest in Urdu and the Sikh priest in Punjabi.