This is how Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday described the gala event when asked here to give a sense of function hosted in his honour at the White House.

"It was a unique experience. The dinner was lavish and extravagant. The atmosphere and the layout was outstanding," Singh told reporters during a brief interaction at a reception hosted by the Indian Embassy in his honour here.

He said President Obama and his wife Michelle had laid out "one of the best dinners and went out of the way" and was a "magnificent" event. "It was a great experience and I enjoyed being there. It was one of the best dinners that I have attended," he said. The people, who had come in and the gathering in itself, is a statement, he added.

The Prime Minister noted that the banquet was attended by many distinguished guests from various walks of American society. "It was a pleasure to meet them all and be in their company. A number of them were of Indian origin and I felt proud at meeting them."

Hailing Obama, Singh said the US President has caught the imagination of the people around the world.