U.S. President Barack Obama rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to open a new phase in India-U.S. ties, which the President described as indispensable for global peace and security and 21st century’s “defining relationship.” In the picture, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur to the state dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AP
It was a taste of India at Mr. Obama’s First State Dinner, where he treated him to a range of vegetarian delicacies, including dishes prepared with herbs from the White House kitchen garden. Picture shows a sample display of a table setting prior to the State Dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House. Photo: AP
Even before Mr. Singh and more than 300 other invitees were served some of the Indian delicacies, Mr. Obama set the tone by greeting in Hindi “Aaapka Swagat Hai”. Picture shows the tent on the South lawn of the White House that served as the venue for Mr. Obama’s first state dinner. Photo: AP
First lady Michelle Obama looked stunning in a golden-silver dress by India-born designer Naeem Khan and walked the State Guests to the tent in the South Lawn, especially constructed for the occasion and decorated with glittering candles, white flowers and chandeliers made of green leaves. Photo: AP
Weeks of speculation about invitees also came to an end as the guests finally stepped on to the red carpet. In the picture, guests are seen during a state dinner with President Obama and Prime Minister Singh. Photo: AP
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator John Kerry, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were among those spotted at the event. Photo: PTI
Many political figures, academics, medical professionals, prominent Indian-Americans and business people were also present at the banquet. In the picture, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen arrives with Emma Georgina Rothschild for the state dinner hosted by President Obama. Photo: AP
Ahead of the dinner, the Prime Minister raised a toast to the “the health and happiness of President Barack Obama, First Lady Ms. Obama, the friendly people of the United States and the stronger and stronger ties between the people of the U.S. and India.” Photo: AP
While Mr. Singh wished the Americans “a happy Thanksgiving Day” — marked on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S. — President Obama greeted his guests with the words— “Aapka Swagat Hai”, pointing out that the White House had celebrated both Diwali and the birthday of Guru Nanak. In the picture, Mr. Obama listens as Mr. Singh reads his toast during a state dinner. Photo: AP
While ending his toast to the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Obama recalled the words of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of India’s independence, “The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us... it is the future that beckons to us now”. Photo: AP
Top Hollywood director Steven Spielberg (in picture) was also invited to the event, which witnessed performances by Oscar winners Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman and American singer-actress Jennifer Hudson, apart from jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and the National Symphony Orchestra. Photo: AP
Director M. Night Shyamalan arrives with Bhavna Shyamalan for a state dinner hosted by President Obama for Prime Minister Singh at the White House. Photo: AP