The ruling said that treating relations between consenting adult homosexuals as a crime is a violation of basic human rights safeguarded under the Indian Constitution.

For many homosexuals, the immediate effect on their personal lives will not be dramatic. There's still a strong social stigma here against gays and lesbians, with young people often pressured to marry early and produce grandchildren.

"There's still a mental block," said Rahil Zafar, 22, a student, wearing a bandanna over his face to hide his identity from television cameras as he celebrated. "I don't want my family to know. They keep the pressure on me."