India at 79: Google Doodle celebrates India's Independence Day - from cricket to cinema

NEW DELHI: Google marked India’s 79th Independence Day on Friday with a special doodle inspired by the country’s traditional tile designs. The artwork highlights regional art forms including Jaipur blue pottery from Rajasthan and terracotta relief work from West Bengal.

The doodle incorporates themes of India’s achievements in space, cricket, chess and cinema. The word ‘Google’ is formed using six tiles, each showcasing a different regional style.

The first tile, styled in Jaipur blue pottery, features the letter ‘G’ with floral artwork. The second has a floral pattern with a spaceship, while the third includes a cricket ball and bats at its centre. The fourth carries a traditional Indian tile design. The fifth shows a chess piece, and the last tile features a cinema reel forming the letters ‘L’ and ‘E’.

The doodle was created by artists Makarand Narkar and Sonal Vasave of Boomranng Studio. Google’s note on the artwork says, "The tiles are a diverse array of styles and textures from different regions in India, ranging from Jaipur blue pottery (Rajasthan) to terracotta relief (West Bengal). Each tile showcases a different style and a different national achievement, from space missions and world chess titles, to cricketing glory and international film recognitions."

Six elements in Google’s Independence Day doodle

1. Jaipur blue pottery ‘G’ – Floral design in traditional blue pottery style from Rajasthan
2. Floral pattern with spaceship – Symbolising India’s achievements in space exploration.
3. Cricket ball and bats – Representing the country’s cricketing successes.
4. Traditional Indian tile design – Highlighting heritage crafts from different regions.
5. Chess piece – Marking India’s dominance in world chess.
6. Cinema reel – Celebrating Indian cinema’s international recognition.

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