There are special symbolic icons that are recognized and respected by Indian people.

For instance, the national fruit of India is the mango. Mangos are sweet and widely used in Indian cuisine. For special occasions and celebrations, mango leaves are used to decorate the doors and halls of Indian homes. In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha (गणेश) is often seen holding a ripe mango, therefore making mangos sacred fruits.

The national bird of India is the Indian peacock. In some Indian villages, peacocks are able to forage the village for scraps of food without fear of being hunted. In Hinduism, peacocks are often associated with the gods. For instance, the peacock is associated with Shiva (शिव), the god of war and in Buddhism, peacocks represent wisdom. Therefore Indian people respect peacocks out of religious sentiment.

The national flower of India is the lotus flower. The lotus flower is often used in conjunction with divine icons. In Hinduism, the goddess Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी) is associated with the lotus flower. The lotus flower symbolizes divine beauty. In Buddhism, the lotus flower symbolizes purity, grace and perfection and it’s said that when the Buddha was born, lotus flowers bloomed everywhere.