An India Israel Duet

Listen to the Israeli band Diwan Saz playing,and you are reminded of a stirring struggle for faith and identity. The band played in Delhi on Monday at a concert organised by the Embassy of Israel to celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. A photography exhibition by Dana Friedlander accompanied the concert.

Diwan Saz has come from “a one-horse town” in the Galili mountains of north Israel,where traditional instruments like the Saz match beats with new guitar and drums. The Israeli numbers and a Yemeni piece they performed were as old as the mountains. But the real hit was Kulta Khan from Jaisalmer,who performed with the band. Khan,who plays the khartal as he sings,was a definite charmer with his peppy yet earthy vocals and eastern melodies.

The photography exhibition,called the Israel 360 featured images of the Israeli landscape,along with the pictures from Jerusalem. Friedlander,who has been shooting,for almost a decade,said,“Israel has varied landscapes,from snow-capped mountains to deserts and beaches. Through this exhibition I want to show Israel to the world.”

The event ended on a jubilant note,with the members of audience shaking a leg to the sounds of Saz and Khartal.