Sri Sri Ravishankar and the sadhu brigade attend Narendra Modi's oath ceremony

NEW DELHI: It was the day saffron returned centre-stage. The swearing-in ceremony on Monday showcased the range of the saffron order and underlined the significance of sadhus and seers to the new political regime.

Most of them were seated in the front row. Some were distinguished by their tilaks, robes and accessories that mark Hindu holy men. Among those present were Sri Sri Ravishankar whose through his Art of Living movement was perceived to be sympathetic to Narendra Modi's PM bid, Ramesh Ojha who has the Ambanis among his disciples, Baba Ramdev's second-in command Acharya Balkrishna and Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, who had helped broker a deal between Anna Hazare and the UPA government.

VHP leader Ashok Singhal was reverentially greeted and many touched his feet as he was escorted to his seat. Sadhvi Ritambhara, who shot to prominence in the 1990s because of his fiery speeches during the Ram Mandir movement, was seated in the second row.

Also present was senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, who had appeared in Delhi's CBI headquarters in Delhi last week in connection for his alleged role in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast. Leaders such as Rajnath Singh were seen touching the feet of saffron saints and leaders. BJP organising secretary Ram Lal went about ensuring that no one was inconvenienced.

Two prominent slogans that rent the evening air were: Vande Mataram and Bharat mata ki jai. At least on two occasions, one also heard, Jai Shri Ram, one of the lead slogans in the Ram Janambhoomi movement leading to the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.

Political observers said that the presence of the conservative Hindu right in such large numbers and the respectful treatment meted out to them emphasized the fact that the process of turning the BJP into a modern right-wing party will be calibrated and sequential. There will be no radical break from the past, rather a staggered change.

Several Dawoodi Bohras from Gujarat were also seen at the ceremony. Modi's Muslim adviser Zafar Sareshwala, a businessman from Gujarat, was seen seated next to Bollywood star Salman Khan.

In the end, though, all appeared to be united as Indians. When the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was sung to mark the end of the proceedings, an overwhelming majority sang along.