India's Miss World, Aishwarya Rai, performs at the Closing Ceremony.
The host of the 2010 Games, Delhi, staged a stunning showcase of Indian culture at the Closing Ceremony, showcasing its plans for the 19th Commonwealth Games.
Delhi 2010 will be a fantastic opportunity to bring the Commonwealth Games to a new generation of fans. India has a population of over 1 billion, of which half are under the age of 25.
India's fantastic contribution to the evening started with the sounds of shankhs and chimes filling the MCG, as giant video screens displayed images of India - a nation of diverse cultures, magnificent landscapes and a rich heritage.
Dancer Isha Sharwani treated the packed stadium to a yoga-inspired dance, as dancers with petals formed a rose which opened to reveal India's Miss World, Aishwarya Rai.
Bollywood superstar Rai began her career as a model and was crowned Miss World in 1994, before starting a hugely successful film career.
Bollywood - the informal name given to the hugely popular Mumbai-based film industry - is a significant part of the popular culture of not only India but also the Middle East, parts of Africa and south-east Asia. The output of the Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of number of films produced and audience tickets sold.
The Indian extravaganza continued with golden rays unfurling all around the stage to represent the sun in all its glory, as monuments of India and Delhi were projected onto the main stage.
A high-energy Bhangra performance followed - a lively form of north Indian folk music and dance - featuring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee and hundreds of brightly costumed dancers.
As a grand finale, the theme song for Delhi 2010 was performed by some of India’s finest singers including Sonu Nigam, Shiamak Davar, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal, before the MCG erupted in a dramatic pyrotechnics display, featuring the three colours of the Indian flag - saffron, white and green.
Nameste! See you in Delhi 2010! Swagatam!
For all the colour of India's Closing Ceremony contribution, visit the Incredible India photo gallery on this Website.