Photos/Pics/Videos: Opening Ceremony Commonwealth Games 2010 (CWG) 03rd October 2010

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Amidst fireworks and dazzling lights, the Prince of Wales and India's President Pratibha Patil declared the Commonwealth Games open. A capacity crowd at the J N stadium welcomed the participating nations.

India on Sunday put behind a nightmarish and scandalous build-up to the Games to come up with a dazzling and vibrant opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games -- the country's biggest sporting spectacle, watched live by a global audience of around three billion.
Against the backdrop of an early October sunset, the spanking new Jawaharlal Nehru stadium turned into a golden hue as the Rs 44 crore aerostat lifted into the skies and a bevy of puppets danced and over 800 drummers heralded the event.
A spectacular laser fireworks show lit up the evening sky and India took a giant leap, 28 years after it hosted the Asian Games.


In a neat diplomatic compromise, Prince Charles, representing Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth, and President Pratibha Patil did the honours at the inaugural ceremony, amid thunderous cheers from the capacity 60,000 crowd.
"I have much pleasure in declaring the 19th Commonwealth Games open," the Prince of Wales said, reading out a message from from his mother Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth.
This was followed by the address of President Patil, who concluded by saying, "The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are now open; let the Games begin," signalling the formal commencement of the sporting extravaganza.

Image: Giant puppets displayed in

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his cabinet colleagues, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Maldives President Mohammed Nashid, Prince of Monaco Albert II, Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell, Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and a host of dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
It was a mix of both cheers and jeers for Kalmadi when he made his speech while references to Dikshit were received by loud cheers from the audience.


Photograph: Reuters

Image: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, (from left to right) Britain's Prince Charles, India's President Pratibha Patil's, Patil's husband Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi stand for the national anthem during the Opening Ceremony

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The past few weeks of negative publicity that had dogged the nearly Rs 70,000 crore mega-event was quickly forgotten as the glittering opening ceremony, which encapsulated a fascinating mix of culture and modernity, kept the spectators enthralled for more than two hours.
The ceremony set the stage for 11 days of intense competition, which will see over 7000 athletes from 71 countries vying for honours.
The aerostat, a giant helium balloon, was dramatically lifted to its full height amid the sounds of Nagada drums.


Photograph: Mohammed Shamsuddin/SnapsIndia

Image: The giant aerostat. the biggest helium balloon in the world, is unveiled at the opening ceremony

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A spectacular display of drummers from various parts of India then took centrestage, and Keshav, a child prodigy from Auroville, Puducherry, was the cynosure of all eyes.
The musical production of Swagatam, a rendition of a blend of Hindustani and Carnatic music that finally climaxed into a Quawalli, was performed by Hariharan.


1050 school children performed a choreography of the Namaste sign, which presented the 23 officially recognised languages of India through projections on the aerostat.


Photograph: Reuters

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The athletes' parade had 71 women, dressed in sarees that not only represented different designs from the various corners of India, but also myriad patterns, colours and styles, carrying their country's placards.
The 619-member strong Indian contingent, which had Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra as the flag-bearer, drew the loudest cheers as it walked into the jam-packed stadium in the presence of a host of dignitaries, International Olympic Committee and CGF officials.


Photograph: Reuters

Image: India's flag-bearer Abhinav Bindra leads the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony