Narendra Modi sworn in for third term as India's prime minister in pictures

• Narendra Modi begins third term as India's prime minister after election victory.
• Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party won 240 seats, forming a coalition for a parliamentary majority.

Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a third term as India's prime minister after winning the election but losing a parliamentary majority on Friday.

Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 240 seats, well short of the 272 required for a majority and far fewer than the record 303 it won in the 2019 election.

Modi, 73, has been forced to form a coalition government as leader of the BJP-led National Democratic Coalition, which together controls 293 seats. The coalition includes several smaller regional parties.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the Indian president in New Delhi. It was attended by thousands of guests, including the heads of neighboring Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Two of India's richest industrialists, Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, were present, as was the Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

Tight security was in place in New Delhi with more than 2,500 police officers deployed around the venue and a no-fly zone declared.

Analysts predict that dependence on coalition parties will likely curtail some of the authoritarian leanings of Modi's previous governance, forcing the prime minister to engage in consensus politics.

Gautam Nair, an assistant professor of public policy at Harvard, said that Modi's nationalist message had stopped resonating with voters.

"This election, even if Prime Minister Modi retains power, shows the power of India's democracy," said Rossow.

Here are some of the best pictures from India's historic weekend.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the Presidential Palace

Crowds gather for Modi's swearing-in ceremony.      Adnan Abidi

Modi took the oath of office as the country's Prime Minister

Narendra Modi takes the oath of office as the country's prime minister.      MONEY SHARMA/Getty Images

Modi signs after taking the oath of office

Narendra Modi signs after taking the oath of office for a third term as the India's prime minister.      MONEY SHARMA/Getty Images

Modi bowed to the crowd after being sworn in

India's newly sworn-in Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures to the crowds after taking the the oath-taking ceremony.      MONEY SHARMA/Getty Images

Fans helped to cool down the onlookers in the Delhi heat

Crowds gather in the heat for Modi's swearing-in ceremony.      Adnan Abidi

Foreign leaders of neighboring states came to congratulate Modi

President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena arrives at the President house in New Delhi for Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony.      PRAKASH SINGH/Getty Images

Fans of Modi drew pictures of the prime minister to celebrate his third term

Students draw portraits of Narendra Modi ahead of oath-taking ceremony      Hindustan Times/Getty Images

Celebrations took place across India over the weekend

Indians celebrate on the eve of Prim Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony      Hindustan Times/Getty Images