Bollywood stars, lion dancers add color

NEW DELHI: The Indian capital welcomed the Olympic torch with traditional pomp and pageantry - and a traditional lion dance performed by about 400 overseas Chinese living in the eastern city of Kolkata.

The relay, stretching from the presidential palace to India Gate, a war memorial, and cut to less than 3 km for security reasons, went smoothly - with top current and retired athletes, politicians and Bollywood stars taking part.

The first torch was lit at the nearly-century-old Rashtrapati Bhavan - reportedly the biggest official residence of a president in the world.