PATNA, Nov. 21 -- The swearing in of chief minister Nitish Kumar at the Gandhi Maidan here had a large presence of dignitaries, but it was waving of the traditional Bihari 'gamcha', by PM Narendra Modi after the ceremony got over, that created the real buzz. The massive ceremony at Gandhi Maidan showcased NDA unity and Central support, reinforcing a strong political message after the alliance's sweeping mandate. The oath ceremony where Nitish took oath of office as CM of Bihar for a record 10th time was very important politically but more than that it was Modi's small but strong gesture that really made his point across the nation. The PM actively waving the 'gamcha' became such a hit that it became the talk of the town. 'Gamcha', a light-coloured fabric with a printed border, has a very strong cultural significance in Bihar and eastern India, as it depicts everyday life, work and local character. By very visibly wearing and waving this item, PM Modi did a very important thing: he played a regional diplomacy masterstroke by mixing cultures. Soon after this, the image spread all over social media and the phrase "Modi Ka Gamcha" became a trending topic. CM Kumar, who took the command for the first time in November 2005, during his first term tenure, had suggested to his party men the importance of the 'gamcha' (towel) and advised them to bring it in place of flowers and bouquet as it would promote small scale industry, besides it being useful. "Waving 'gamcha' was the culture of the RJD but Jagdanand Singh stopped it. Now Modi ji has made it a fad," said Nand Kishor Singh, 70, from Shahabad, present in the crowd. The swearing-in ceremony began with a popular Bihar folk dance from Mithila called 'Sama Chakeva', celebrating love between siblings to welcome those gathered at the venue. Later, a rendition of the national anthem was also played before the start of the ceremony. The excitement was palpable with the crowd chanting 'Modi-Nitish ki jodi Kayam rahe, Vikas Purush zindabad', as the PM took the stage. After taking oath, Nitish Kumar shook hands with Modi. As the swearing in got underway, flags fluttered across the ground. BJP flags were clearly in the largest number as well as bigger in size to tell the story of the Bihar election, which gave the NDA an unprecedented mandate. The reactions from the people in the crowd were also interesting. They noticed as Nitish Kumar fumbled a few times while taking oath. "Nitish ji seems to be getting old. Or maybe he is not fully fit or is in greater enthusiasm due to his 10th oath - a record. He used to speak flawlessly earlier. But when destiny helps you, nothing can come in your way," said Ramanand, who came from Danapur to see the function. As the name of Deepak Prakash was called for oath, a couple of women instantly remarked: "Upendra Kushwaha is the real Chanakya. Look at his son. His mother won the election, but his father arranged a cabinet berth for him." Another one chipped in: "Prakash is not a member of any House, but this is what politics is all about. He has been made a minister in anticipation that he would go to the Legislative Council, while many capable and educated ones are waiting." There was a lot of excitement to identify the dignitaries on the dais, as it included several CMs, deputy CMs from different states and senior leaders. The people discussed the constant conversations of Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandra Babu Naidu with home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda. UP CM Yogi Adityanath and several other CMs and ministers seated on the dais also caught people's attention, as they viewed the seating with their own interpretations. The PM arrived on the stage at 11.30 am, waved a saffron towel to the crowd which also reciprocated, acknowledged their support with folded hands....