India has welcomed the nations of the Commonwealth to Delhi with a spectacular opening ceremony spiced with thumping rhythms, high-energy dancing, neon-lit sitars and shimmering saris.

More than 60,000 people packed into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to watch the extravaganza, which presented a tapestry of India's rich history and culture in a three-hour spectacle.

Outside the venue, more than 100,000 security personnel stood guard across the city in an unprecedented display of force to ward off possible terrorist attacks, along with 1,500 commandos, 100 anti-sabotage teams, 300 sniffer dogs and 15 bomb disposal squads.

Outside the stadium spectators, media and dignitaries went through security check-points involving bag searches, metal detectors, frisking and even radiation checks.

Overhead, military helicopters buzzed across the skyline and unmanned aerial drones were said to be keeping an eye on possible air space intrusions.

After more than 90 minutes of glitz and glamour Prince Charles, on behalf of the Queen, declared the 19th Commonwealth Games officially open, after which Indian President Pratibha Patil said:"Let the Games begin".

Organisers will be hoping the success of the event will finally shift the focus away from the city's disastrous preparations for the Games, including the collapse of a footbridge, the shooting of two tourists and an outbreak of dengue fever.

But in a sign of how little faith the city has in the Games' beleaguered top official, Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi was booed and heckled as he took to the stage.

The show began with the raising of the "aerostat" - the world's largest helium-filled balloon, which looked like a floating turban on which a kaleidoscope of colours and moving images were projected.

Dangling from the aerostat were eight gigantic human-like puppets clad in Indian costume, dancing to the beats of hundreds of drummers moving across the stadium floor below.

Namaste welcome

Led out by Australia and its flag carrier Sharelle McMahon, competitors from the 71 nations and territories were then given a traditional "namaste" welcome as they entered the arena.

But nothing came close to the wild reception the home athletes received, as the crowd rose to its feet and roared with appreciation.

Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh told the athletes:"Welcome to India. Welcome to New Delhi.

"The people of India are delighted to host the 19th Commonwealth Games in this historic city of Delhi.

"It is a proud moment of all our countrymen."

After a spiritual sequence involving 800 yogis contorting their bodies into mind-boggling positions, the stage became a carnival representing India's great railway system.

As Bollywood music boomed, a 200-metre long make-believe train made up of super-sized bangles, balloons and bicycles chugged its way around the venue.

The finale was left to the so-called "Mozart of Madras", AR Rahman, whose song Jai Ho from the film Slumdog Millionaire brought an epic event to a fitting climax.