Top leaders from SAARC countries including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Bhutan Prime Minister TsheringTobgay, Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam attended the ceremony.
Outgoing Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, leaders of various other political parties and Chief Ministers of several states were also present on the occasion.