Stalwarts notwithstanding, the new members enjoyed their moment of pride as they frequently waved and said cheese on demand in front of the flashing cameras and satellite channels.

They climbed the staircase leading to the Lower House up and down several times, if the media had missed them. They timed their entry well so as to avoid a company of a high-profile leader, for fear of being overshadowed. The members found their own ways of declaring their arrival in the democracy's highest forum.

Bhavna Gawli, the 26-year-old Shiv Sena MP representing the Washim constituency in Maharashtra, wore a bright saffron dupatta along with her party colleagues sporting traditional saffron phetas (headgear). "I feel great to have made it to theParliament in my maiden attempt," said a beaming Gawli who had so far seen the Parliament only on television.

A reticent Ram Prasad Paswan was escorted by his elder brother Ram Vilas Paswan. The first-timer played a rather nonplussed spectator to the flash lights focussed on Paswan senior.

Shripal Yessonaik and Ravikant Angle, the BJP MPs from Goa also looked a rather lost as they watched senior political leaders of their own party taking almost the entire cake.

Sharing the newcomers nervousness was Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Dressed in dark maroon saree, Sonia arrived about ten minutes before 11 a.m. and made her way to the House amidst media clamour. With discomfort showing on her face due to a strong contingent of national and foreign media, Sonia headed straight away to the House without waiting for a while at the Parliament staircase.

For DMK first-timers, it was family and relations that made them feel at home on the occasion. 40-year-old Adi Shankar, the MP from Cuddalore, had car packedwith his close relatives who accompanied him to the Parliament. Father, wife, children and other relatives. A total eight of them celebrated the event in each other's company.

"It's first time for us too to see the Parliament," said Kavita, the daughter of DMK MP from Tricehndur A D K Jayaseelan. Kavita along with her mother and some close relatives in Delhi braved the camera lenses zooming in on them with a gentle smile as they made their way towards the Lower House.

Making up for the absence of Sushma Swaraj, Delhi's very own Anita Arya turned out to be the BJP's woman in focus for the media. Elected from Karol Bagh by defeating the Congress leader Meira Kumar, Arya posed before the camera and readily agreed to make a brief speech when requested by mediapersons.

They might be new and inexperienced, but they had their homework done for things possible for them. Dressing was just one of it. From colourful pugrees, heavy Kanjeevarams, Gujarati Mojris (footwear) and tonnes of gold to designer kurtas, RayBan glasses, Nike and Reebok.

The new MPs turned out in their best. Hassan Khan of NC had the traditional gown over a pair of trousers and a fur cap. "The region is facing problem of infiltration by Pak," said Khan as he turned to every side from where the camera man screamed for a shot. So that was the day for the 13th Lok Sabha first timers. There were no regrets. Not by those who could not form the government, not even by those who lost their race to Ministership.