Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at 11 am local time (9 pm Pakistan Standard Time) today.
The inauguration ceremony will be a low-key event this time due to coronavirus pandemic and fears of violence amid tight security after the January 6 attack on the Capitol by outgoing president Donald Trump’s supporters.
Let’s look at what happened a night before the ceremony and what will happen today:
Joe Biden and his wife Jill spent the night in the lavish Blair House, located opposite the White House on Lafayette Square, which the US government uses to host special guests and visiting dignitaries.
The day will start with President-elect Biden, a devout Catholic, attending mass at St Matthew’s cathedral in Washington. On his invitation, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Kevin McCarthy, while his party men Senator Chuck Schumer and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi will also attend.
Mr Biden will then travel in a motorcade to the Capitol where the inauguration ceremony gets under way at 11am.
He will take oath of office after Vice President-elect Kamala Harris takes her vow, then will give his inaugural speech.
The National Mall that runs from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial will be closed due to Covid-19 fears and security fears.
Lady Gaga is due to sing the national anthem, while Jennifer Lopez is also set to give a musical performance. Gareth Brooks will also perform.
And the newly inaugurated 46th US president will then have lunch with members of Congress in the Capitol building.
In the afternoon, he will head to Arlington National Cemetery to place a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
He will be accompanied by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Donald Trump will not be there.
MrBiden will travel from Arlington by motorcade to the White House and enter his new home on foot surrounded by a military cordon.
He will sign his first executive orders shortly after arriving.
At 8.25pm, Mr Biden and Ms Harris will give a speech at the Lincoln Memorial, honouring the 400,000 people who have died from Covid-19 in America.
Shortly after, actor Tom Hanks will host a show called “Celebrating America” that will be broadcast on all major US networks.
Jon Bon Jovi, the Foo Fighters, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Luis Fonsi are among the guests expected to perform.
