Independence Day: President Pranab Mukherjee's 'At Home' function begins

Rains forced the shifting of 'At Home' function hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday from the Mughal Gardens to the Ashoka Hall where a large number of dignitaries including Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, BJP patriarch L K Advani, BJP President Amit Shah and cabinet ministers attended the reception.

After a tumultuous Parliament session in which the Congress had crossed swords with the Speaker, Gandhi and Mahajan were seen holding each other's hands and having a word with smile on their faces.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has a running battle with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, exchanged pleasantries with him in the ceremonial high-domed chamber. The two laughed their hearts out in the company of Azad, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Mukherjee moved out of Ashoka Hall and mixed with the crowd in the adjacent banquet hall and Ashoka Hall.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur were also present at the function. 

President Pranab Mukherjee meets guests during 'At Home' reception in President House on occasion of Independence Day pic.twitter.com/mImQpTajDR

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 15, 2015

President Pranab Mukherjee meets PM Narendra Modi during 'At Home' reception in the President house. pic.twitter.com/n5NwyL8tGV

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 15, 2015

President Pranab Mukherjee hosts 'At Home' reception in the President House on the occasion of Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/JnGbEcRZIo

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 15, 2015

President Pranab Mukherjee hosts 'At Home' reception in the President House on the occasion of Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/T4ETeU34bS

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 15, 2015

President hosts 'At Home' reception in the President House on the occasion of Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/07p4LdlRuh

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 15, 2015