At Rashtrapati Bhavan, Narendra Modi's VIP Audience

Narendra Modi, chief architect of the BJP's emphatic 282-seat win in the Lok Sabha elections, was sworn-in as India's 15th Prime Minister in a grand ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 26. Almost 4000 guests, including world leaders and film stars, were present to watch Mr Modi and his council of 45 ministers take oath.

Earlier, as he arrived for the swearing-in ceremony, Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by BJP leaders and now Cabinet ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari.

Before the ceremony started, Mr Modi was seated next to Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh, both of whom were sworn in as Cabinet ministers.

Industrialist Mukesh Ambani and wife Nita arrive for the swearing-in ceremony accompanied by sons Akash and Anant.

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Ambani matriarch Kokilaben was escorted by her younger son Anil and his wife Tina.

Anil Ambani and actress Poonam Dhillon stood out among the dignitaries.

Actor Salman Khan and his father Salim were seated in the second row of the VIPs.

Salman greets someone in his characteristic Khan-tastic style.

A Kodak moment in Rashtrapati Bhavan starring Salman Khan, his father Salim Khan and cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.

Another Kodak moment: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hugs Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, leaders of the defeated Congress, arrive to watch Mr Modi take oath.

Congress leader and Mr Modi's predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh attended the ceremony with wife Gursharan Kaur.

A picture crowded with political personages, all rather grim - Rahul Gandhi, Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif and Gursharan Kaur.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya mingled with the crowd

BJP's Kirron Kher, who won from Chandigarh, was extremely elegant in a white and gold sari.

Senior BJP leader Amit Shah gets a Namaste from Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Sonia Gandhi was spotted in conversation with senior BJP leader LK Advani.

Outgoing Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh exchanged pleasantries with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In the backdrop, was former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

Dr Singh also greeted Maldives President Abdulla Yameen warmly.

Former President Pratibha Patil was greeted by Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam says Namaste to former Indian President Pratibha Patil and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Actors and BJP MPs Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini and her husband Dharmendra were also among the VIP guests.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was all smiles on the occasion.

BJP leader Smriti Irani, dressed in red and black, is the youngest of the Cabinet ministers at 38.

Image courtesy: DD National

Ramvilas Paswan, also a Cabinet minister, arrived to take oath.

Image courtesy: DD National

BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi waves at someone.

Image courtesy: DD National

Singer Bappi Lahiri, festooned with his habitual bling, also received an invite. Bappida fought the elections as a BJP candidate and lost from Srirampur in West Bengal.

Image courtesy: DD National

Among the host of familiar faces was Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Image courtesy: DD National

Former cop and social activist Kiran Bedi posted a selfie. She wrote: Here is my 1st Selfie! For my best frds! At RBhawan! Thanku Godji!I am here thanks to the change! No other way!

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Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan is flooded with a sea of guests.