India was today basking in the success of its Mars Orbiter Mission as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the country in applauding the ISRO scientists for achieving the "miracle" on a shoestring budget and the international community hailed the feat.
"History has been created today. We have dared to reach out into the unknown. And have achieved the near impossible," said Modi, as India became the first country to succeed in the mission to Mars in its maiden attempt.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari said the breakthrough will inspire the country's scientists to make even greater strides.
Congratulations poured in for the scientists from politicians, Bollywood celebrities and common people with many sitting in front of television early this morning to witness the historic moment.
"It is a very proud day for all Indians. Our scientists at ISRO have shown a miracle," said melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, summing up the feelings of all countrymen.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam said that the success of Rs 450-crore Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has given the nation a reason to smile.
"ISRO has yet again given the nation a reason to smile... Well done," Kalam, who is known as the father of India's missile programme, tweeted.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the event marks the culimination of a decade's worth of hardwork.
The announcement that India would launch a mission to Mars was delivered by Singh during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in 2012.
In her message, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that the achievement would be a source for inspiration "for generations to come" and commended the "courage, passion and imagination" of the team of space scientists and researchers led by ISRO Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan.
The US, China and Australia were among the countries which congratulated India after Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft 'Mangalyaan' slipped into a smooth orbit around the Red Planet after almost a year-long voyage.
China said that it was not only a proud achievement for India and Asia but also a "landmark progress" in mankind's exploration of outer space, a rare acknowledgment of its Asian rival's rising space prowess.
"This is pride of India and Pride of Asia and also is a landmark progress in humankind's exploration of outer space. So we congratulate India on that," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in Beijing.
US space agency NASA, which has just launched its own MAVEN mission to the Red Planet, also congratulated ISRO.
"The US Embassy congratulates India and the Indian Space Research Organisation on its Mars Orbiter Mission. India is in an elite group of space-faring nations by achieving insertion into Mars orbit," a statement from the US embassy here said.
The international media noted how India has "beaten its Asian rivals' to the Red Planet, even "outdoing the Americans, the Soviets and the Europeans in doing so on a maiden voyage".
People took to social networking media to express their joy and pride at the achievement.
"Mangalyaan... Bharat Mata ki Jai! Historic! Only country to have succeeded in first attempt, on budget less than Hollywood film... Our scientists have achieved what others could not... Badhai, Pyaar, Sneh, Abhinandan, aur Jai jai kaar! MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission)," Amitabh Bachchan, 71, posted on Twitter.
