India: the world's largest free elections ... ever

Neat and orderly: white-shirted men on the left, colourfully-dressed women on the right ... with children playing all around. This is voting Indian-style as seen at a polling station on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Photograph: Mahesh Kumar A/AP

Free and fair: a security official casually holds his gun as voters queue during the first phase of polling at Jatingamukh, in Silchar. Photograph: AFP/Getty

I've voted: a veiled woman shows her ink-marked finger and clutches her ID papers after casting her vote in Varanasi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Being counted: the indelible ink mark on this woman's finger in Rajapur village, Mirzapur, shows she has voted and will stop her from voting again in this round of the election. Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

How it is done: an election officer marks the finger of a voter with ink during the first phase of polling in Varanasi. Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty

All dressed up: with umpteen bracelets and clothes featuring many small mirrors, these Lambadi tribal women - and baby - leave a polling booth in the Rangareddy district, outside Hyderabad. Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty

Modestly placing a cross: a woman walks from the polling room, right, while others queue to cast their votes in Varanasi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Proving who we are: women display their voters' identity cards outside a polling booth in Akhori village. Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Till next time: women leave a polling station in Varanasi after casting their votes while two security officials watch activity farther down the street. Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP