Dir

The procession affected vehicular traffic in and around the Tihar Jail premises including in Janakpuri, Mayapuri and Hari Nagar in West Delhi.

The tireless Hazare was greeted by the supporters with garlands and bouquets at various intersections en-route his procession which was marked by chants of 'Anna' and "Vande Mataram".

Children, housewives and others were seen standing on their balconies and rooftops to have a glimpse of Hazare and the procession.

Thousands of people, many of them school children, waited at Ramlila Ground despite rains to support Anna Hazare.

With the many tricolours, patriotic songs playing in the background and loud slogans and the sun playing hide and seek, it was like a carnival at the sprawling ground in central Delhi where Hazare will continue his fast that began Tuesday.

There were hundreds of school children in the crowd, some who had bunked their classes to come out in support of the 74-year-old Hazare.

"I have come here to support Annaji and we will get the civil society version of Lokpal bill passed come what may," said Prateek Babar, a student of Rajkiya Sarvodya Vidhyalaya School in west Delhi.

As it started pouring heavily, some people started dancing.

"When the government could not stop us, this downpour is nothing. I am here to witness history in the making," said Rehan Singh, a Class 9 student who had a tricolour painted on his face.

Authorities looked worried though.

"The marquee put up at the Ramlila ground is not waterproof. The ground is already wet. If it rains more, it will be difficult to handle," said Deputy Mayor Anil Sharma.

Anna's exit from jail today, took place after two days of hard negotiations with the government and the two sides agreeing that Hazare will undertake a fast for 15 days at the Ramlila Ground subject to certain conditions.

Hazare got from Delhi Police the spacious Ramlila Ground for his fast instead of the smaller J P Park.

Significantly, Team Hazare made it clear that his fast would not be a fast-unto-death and he will be on hunger strike only till his health permits.

73-year-old Hazare, in a video shot inside Tihar Jail, said the protests by "all my brothers and sisters, the elderly and the children" is giving him a "new energy" for his fast.

He said people were fed up of corruption and the government should not take long to bring a strong Lokpal Bill.

Hazare,

...