Pranab Mukherjee takes over as 13th President of India

Pranab Mukherjee has taken over as the 13th President of India in a ceremony marked with pomp and splendour.

Pranab Mukherjee began his day by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and memorials of former leaders. His first stop was Mahatma Gandhi's memorial - Rajghat.

Accompanied by Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath he spent about five minutes at Rajghat before heading to memorials of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi.
After his visit to the memorial he then headed to Parliament where he was received by outgoing President Pratibha Patil.
A procession of horse-drawn carriages accompanied Pranab Mukherjee to Parliament.

Also standing by Pranab Mukherjee's side was Vice President Hamid Ansari who will be hoping for a second term as Vice President.
Mr Mukherjee took oath in the Central Hall of Parliament, familiar ground for him as an MP for over 40 years. He took oath of office at exactly 11.38 am, a time he had chosen as propitious.
Pranab Mukherjee and outgoing President Pratibha Patil exchanged seats once he took his oath.

All the UPA ministers and allies were present in Parliament today Pranab Mukherjee's swearing-in, including Mamata Banerjee who came to Delhi on Tuesday and even met him then.
A cavalcade of horses accompanied India's 13th President Pranab Mukherjee to his new address - Rashtrapati Bhavan, the spectacular presidential palace. A little later he gave his predecessor, Pratibha Patil, a ceremonial send off.
Pranab Mukherjee was taken to Rashtrapati Bhavan in a traditional horse driven carriage.

Pranab Mukherjee inspected a ceremonial guard of honor at the Presidential Palace after the oath taking ceremony. He was escorted by the President's bodyguards in white-uniforms.