NEWS4EXCHANGE

Pomp and tradition meet up as new president Ram Nath Kovind's takes office

New Delhi, Jul 25 The detailed service for change of guard in India's most elevated Constitutional office began today with a delicate thump on the door of President-elect Ram Nath Kovind's Akbar Road habitation.

It was Military Secretary to the President, Major General Anil Khosla, welcoming 71-year-old Kovind and his significant other Savita to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Pranab Mukherjee was waiting for them in the study.

The two pioneers at that point went to the fantastic Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt where they were escorted to the saluting dais.

Mukherjee took the last salute of the President's Bodyguard (PBG) with President-elect Kovind standing to his left.

He and his successor drove down Raisina Hill to the Central Hall of the Parliament in a dark limousine, with Mukherjee justified and Kovind on the left.

Escorting them was an excellent equestrian parade by the PBG, wearing white stately garbs and blue turbans with gold decorative work.

The road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament was lined with 1,000 jawans from all three services of the three administrations of the military offering the customary 'hazaar salaam' to the president - the preeminent leader of the resistance strengths.

The parade achieved gate five of Parliament where Vice President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Chief Justice of India J S Kehar got President Mukherjee and President-elect Kovind who were then taken to the Central Hall.

After the oath ceremony, Kovind met pioneers in Central Hall before leaving for the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presidential limousine, this time with Mukherjee in the left and India's new president on the right.

The skies opened up as the parade advanced from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan. The dark landing area of Rajpath appeared to be washed spotless as the PBG walked with military accuracy in the pouring precipitation.

Kovind and Mukherjee came to the Rashtrapati Bhavan where the former took charge after signing the register.