Sushma Swaraj Takes Oath in Sanskrit: 10 Facts on Lok Sabha Oath-Taking Ceremony

The Prime Minister was followed by former deputy prime minister LK Advani, who preferred Hindi as the language to go through the ritual. (PM Modi Leads Newly-Elected MPs As They Take Oath In Lok Sabha)

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was next. Mrs Gandhi, who wore a light green cotton sari, took the oath in Hindi, but the other Gandhi bahu, Maneka, a minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet, opted for English as the swearing-in medium. She took oath much later. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was first among the members of the Union Cabinet to be sworn in as an MP. He took the oath in Hindi.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who followed Rajnath, took the oath in Sanskrit, reflecting the diversity in Indian culture. Water resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti, who won from Jhansi, and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who wrested Chandni Chowk from the Congress, also opted for Sanskrit, the language which is advocated strongly by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the RSS, the BJP's ideological mentor.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur, who belongs to the Shoromani Akali Dal, took the oath in Punjabi. Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, who won from Bangalore North, preferred Kannada, his mother tongue. Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram used Odiya as the language to be sworn in. Meanwhile, Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari (BJP) took oath extempore, inviting applause from members.

Two ministers from the north-east opted for different languages. Sarbananda Sonowal, who holds the independent charge of the sports and youth affairs ministry, took the oath in Assamese. He retained the Lakhimpur seat. Minister of State for Home, who won from Arunachal West, surprised everyone by using Hindi as the language to be sworn in. LJP member Veena Devi, who took oath in Hindi, seemed to have forgotten to carry her specs and borrowed a pair from staff of Lok Sabha to read her oath.

After swearing in members of the Union council of ministers, it was the turn of the representatives from various states and union territories (UTs). Members were administered the oath on the basis of the alphabetical order of their states and UTs. Thus, Bishnu Pada Ray, who won from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was the first MP to be sworn in. Meanwhile, BJP member from Bihar, Kirti Azad came in traditional Maithili dress and head gear, while two Gujarat MPs - Devusinh Jesingbhai Chauhan and Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya wore traditional Gujarati garments.

Cousins Rahul and Varun Gandhi took oath one after the other. Rahul was the first to take oath in Hindi, followed by Varun. After taking oath, Varun, while returning to his seat, greeted Congress President Sonia Gandhi with folded hands. He forgot to sign the register after taking oath and was quickly reminded by Congress member K Suresh and Mrs Gandhi to sign it.

There are 315 new MPs in the 16th Lok Sabha, the highest in the last three decades. These numbers include MPs who might have been Members of the Rajya Sabha before, but have been elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time. (Know Your MPs)

The Lok Sabha will elect its full-time Speaker tomorrow. Former union minister Sumitra Mahajan, an eighth-term MP from Indore, is set to occupy the post. She will become the second woman to be elevated as the Lok Sabha Speaker. The first was Meira Kumar, who presided over the 15th Lok Sabha. (Sumitra Mahajan Set To Be Next Speaker of Lok Sabha: Sources)

President Pranab Mukherjee will address a joint session of Parliament on Monday. He will use the speech to outline the Narendra Modi government's priorities.