Scenes from the State Dinner

The Reception — AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk out onto the North Portico to welcome India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, to the State Dinner at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are seen before they welcome India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, to the State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, to the State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, to the State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

The Party

A tent on the South lawn of the White House serves as the venue for President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's State Dinner on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, center, talks during a State Dinner in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House with President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

Guests are seen in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House during a State Dinner with President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

President Barack Obama makes a toast with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a State Dinner on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

President Barack Obama listens as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reads his toast during a State Dinner on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

First lady Michelle Obama listens to the National Symphony Orchestra during the State dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

The Table Settings

People take photos at a media event showing a sample display of a table setting prior to the State Dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

A display table setting is seen in the State Dining Room prior to the State Dinner for India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

A sample display of a table setting is seen prior to the State Dinner for India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.