After a 28-year wait for a second World Cup title, it was a scene repeated across the cricket-obsessed nation that is the financial powerbase of the sport and now world champion in the one-day format.

In a country of 1.2 billion people, there'll be no bigger party.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi joined the crowd which flocked into the capital New Delhi, giving the v-for-victory sign to the crowd and waving the Indian flag.

In Chandigarh, near where India beat Pakistan in the semifinals on Wednesday, Yograj Singh said his son Yuvraj's performances for India — including four man-of-the-match awards — were life-changing.

“God bless you son, you have made the nation and a father proud,” Yograj was quoted as saying. “It was my dream of 30 years to live for this moment.”

Yuvraj, who was batting with Mahendra Singh Dhoni when his captain hit a giant six to seal a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, expected the celebrations to go on all night.

“This is unbelievable. This is the most special one for whole of India, for Sachin, for the whole team,” Yuvraj said. “It's just amazing. We batted like champions.”

Dhoni, who joins Kapil Dev as the only two Indian captains to lift the World Cup, said the team had set their sights on the World Cup 18 months to two years ago.

"Whatever we were doing on the field we had a long-term goal," he said. "Just by having a target in mind doesn't mean you will win the World Cup.

"We prepared well for the World Cup, we tried to keep each and every individual fit. We tried to keep the best XI in the best form.

"We peaked at the right time, we wanted to win it for each other."

Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra state which takes in Mumbai, said the long wait was worth it.

“This is an achievement that the country is proud of. Our boys in blue have done a stupendous job,” Chavan said.

His deputy, Ajit Pawar, said it had given “immense satisfaction to millions”

“I am sure it will inspire everyone in the country,” Pawar said.

India had already ground to a halt earlier Saturday to gather around televisions to watch the match.

Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was packed to capacity with 32,000 lucky ticket-holders as the final started.

The Times of India summed up the mood with its front page headline “A Nation Holds Its Breath.” The tension of the high-stakes game was even evident at a chaotic coin toss. Match referee Jeff Crowe didn't hear the call before the coin landed and a re-throw was necessary.

Sri Lanka eventually won it, no doubt causing a few hearts to flutter among India fans.

More than 3,000 police officers and paramilitaries were on duty to prevent a repeat of the November 2008 attack by Islamist militants on several targets in the western city, which killed 166 people.

Both teams stayed in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, rebuilt after it was partially destroyed in gun fights involving the attackers in 2008. The streets around the Taj were all blocked by police with armored vehicles.