MUMBAI: Manghaniyar and Langa artists from Rajasthan brought a capacity crowd of Israelis alive marking the grand climax of a two week international music festival in Jerusalem over the weekend.

"It is unbelievable how four pieces of wood can take us into a realm of extraordinary musical delight. It seems likea magical innovation of a local population who have musical instincts embedded deep into their blood," noted Israeli filmmaker Dan Setton told PTI after the performance referring to 'Khartal', an instrument made of four pieces of wood.

"The colour, the diversity, the rhythm - India doesn't fail to surprise me. I am a big fan of Indian music but every now and then get intensely attracted to a new form of it. Now this is going to be my new obsession for a while," Michal, an India enthusiast said after the performance.

The six artists drawn from Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Barmer districts of Rajasthan drew huge applause from the audience who joined them during the singing of 'Nimbooda Nimbooda' and 'Damadam mast Kalandar'.

"While we know these songs from Bollywood films but we now realise that this is probably the authentic version. It is much more bold with fiery and complex vocals," Tamar, a student of Indian studies said.

"It also reflects cultural unity in diversity with same songs in differing styles being sung in different parts of the country," she told PTI.