It was all colour and pomp -- and also plenty of warmth -- between the heads of two of the largest democracies in the world at the ceremonial welcome for United States President George W Bush in New Delhi on Thursday morning.
President A P J Abdul Kalam warmly welcomed President Bush at the forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet colleagues were also present at the ceremony.
Bush inspected the inter-services guard of honour, with Jana gana mana and The star spangled banner -- anthems of India and America -- providing a fitting background score.
Image: US President George W Bush (left) inspects the guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Photograph: Mandel Nagan/AFP/Getty Images
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