Ab Ki Baar Modi Sarkaar: BJP Celebrates

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a historic mandate in India's general election on May 16, emerging with 283 of the 543 parliamentary seats, more than enough to form a government without having to broker a post-election coalition.

Saffron was the hue in vogue outside the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

Victory Tsunami: A sea of supporters cheer during Narendra Modi's victory rally in Vadodara.

BJP supporters hold aloft the party's flags during the Vadodara rally.

BJP supporters listen to Narendra Modi's address from the rooftops during the Vadodara rally.

Modi-fication of India: A rangoli decoration shows a portrait of Narendra Modi on the map of India at Shri Kamalam, the Gujarat BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar.

Saffron competed with the pink of gulaal in Varanasi.

The drumbeats of destiny: for the BJP, party's just begun in New Delhi.

BJP supporters pose for a photograph wearing masks bearing the image of Narendra Modi.

With rose petals strewn over them, BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Amit Shah greet people in the capital after their party's victory.

Elephants bear the symbol of the BJP in front of the party headquarters.

Dancers twirl outside the BJP headquarters in the capital.

Ecstatic BJP supporters dance to the beats of the drum in Varanasi, one of the two constituencies Mr Modi won from.

In New Delhi, a cut-out of BJP's top man Narendra Modi was put up by celebrants.

Supporters of Narendra Modi stand in queue for free T-shirts next to a giant banner showing an image of India's PM-to-be at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

Musicians play their pungi at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

The festivities spilled over to senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj's house in the capital.

BJP leader Dr Harsh Vardhan, ecstatic about his party's performance, does a victory jig.

The sound of victory: Partymen burst crackers outside the BJP headquarters in the capital.

The BJP offices have been ready with laddoos overnight. Narendra Modi gets to sample the sweets – a poster of him will do.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi plays the dhol.

Narendra Modi's family members distribute sweets in Gandhinagar.

In Mumbai, BJP workers dance to the beats of the dhol.

BJP workers sound victory bugles outside the party headquarters.

Confetti and colours fill the air as the BJP is set to head a new government.

In Ahmedabad, band baaja and flags.

Sweets bearing the BJP's name and symbol on display in Vadodra.

Animal print tribal costumes and headgear made for a striking picture outside the BJP headquarters.

In Hyderabad, elated supporters of the BJP burst a stream of firecrackers.

In Varanasi, crowds cheered Narendra Modi's win from their city.