Ranchi: The International Watercolour Festival at Audrey House concluded on a cheerful note with volunteers tying rakhis to international artists on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Sunday.

Even though the fest was suppose to officially conclude on Monday, many international artists bade adieu to Ranchi on Sunday.

Some of the volunteers tied rakhis and offered sweets to artists, including Mong Mong Sho from China, Darius Rafaello from Taiwan, India-born Anil Panase from UAE and Fotis Kiiogjeri from Albania.

As a token of return gift Mong Mong Sho gifted currency notes of China to the girls.

Organised by department of tourism, art-culture, sports and youth affairs in association with Fabriano In Acquarello, an international forum of artists, the festival was formally inaugurated by chief minister Raghubar Das on August 23. Over 50 artists from 17 countries took part.

Visitors got to witness the artists painting with watercolour and even enquired about the techniques used. The visiting artists also toured the city looking out for picturesque locations and even interacted with schoolchildren.

"We normally come across artists working with oil or acrylic at such camps but an exclusive art camp for watercolour artists is something unique," said city-based artist Rashmi Prasad.

If visitors were impressed, the participating artists too had a memorable experience.

"This is my first visit to India and I found Ranchi to be a very colourful place. It was surely an ideal location for organising such a fest," said Italy-based Anna Massinisa, founder of Fabriano In Acquarello.

"I am really grateful that they invited me here. I found Ranchi to be a fantastic and lively place," said Lea Nixon from UK, adding he would love to visit Ranchi again.

"I had visited India once before and found the country as lively and attractive as before," said SelmaTodorova from Bulgaria.

"Ranchi is simply an awesome place and we were overwhelmed with the hospitality extended to us," said Kausar Hossain Masud from Bangladesh.