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The flag in use by Mon people and NMSP.
The ratio of the length and breadth of the flag is 5 feet by 3 feet. The design and colours are : On red background a yellow shell-drake (sacred goose) flies in the middle facing the hoist and at top corner of the hoist is a five pointed light-blue star. Read stands for courage and bravery; yellow for glory and nobility; and blue for truth.
The golden shel-drake is the symbol of the Mons and is known in Mon language as "bob". In Pali this aquatic bird is expressed as hamsa/hongsar; thus the derivation of Homsavati/Hongsawatoi in Pali, litterally meaning shell-drake country. In conformity with the symbol, Mon is an aquatic race.
It was written in the chronicles that eight years after enlightenment, Lord Buddha along with his disciples went air-borne around Southeast Asian countries. On his return journey while crossing the Gulf of Martaban, which happened to be at low tide, he saw two golden shell drakes sitting, female on top of male, on a peak of land protruding out of sea just enough for a bird’s perch. On the strange phenomena he predicted to his deciples that one day a country where his doctrine would thrive would come into existence n this vast sea area. Mons were the first rulers of this country known in history as Hongsawatoi approximately 1500 years after the prediction. That part of the sea when it was silted up and ready for habitation was colonized by Mons from Thaton Kingdow in 825 A.D.
The light-blue-star signifies the guiding Pole Star. The symbol of our conviction.
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