Vajpayee's first photo in years - being conferred Bharat Ratna

It was probably the first photograph of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Indians saw in years, as President Pranab Mukherjee conferred on him the nation's highest civilian honour - the Bharat Ratna - at his home here on Friday.

But the single photograph released - of the presentation ceremony as President Mukherjee placed the ribboned medallion around Vajpayee neck - did not show most of his face as the tray held by the president's ADC blocked the camera view.

Vajpayee, 90, who has been ailing for some years, and is reportedly immobile, was presented the top honour at his 6, Krishna Menon Marg residence by President Mukherjee, who in a break from protocol and "in a special gesture", went to the BJP leader's house to confer the honour.

The media, which was there in hordes outside the house, was not allowed inside the gate, except official media. And even the camera that captured all the guests, including Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh among others, was not allowed to accompany them as they went inside.

The still photograph of the ceremony was later released.