No 'politics' at President's I-Day function

President Pranab Mukherjee on a rain-soaked Saturday hosted an ‘At Home’ reception for politicians, ministers and diplomats at the Rastrapati Bhavan on the occasion of India’s 69th Independence Day.

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.

The hug says it all! Putting a tumultuous Parliament session in which the Congress had crossed swords with the Speaker behind them, Sonia and Sumitra hug it out and share a laugh at the functions. Photograph: PTI 

Good speech sir! President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a conversation at the function in the Ashoka Hall. Photograph: @RashtrapatiBhvn/Twitter

Hello, old friend: President Pranab greets BJP patriarch LK Advani at the event. Photograph: @RashtrapatiBhvn/Twitter

Namaste! Sonia Gandhi greets President Pranab at the do, which was shifted from the MughalGardens to the Ashoka Hall owing to the rains. Photograph: PTI

Sometimes friends, sometimes foes: 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. Photograph: PTI