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        Coinciding with Mahasivarathri, an exhibition-cum-sale showcasing rare rudraksha beads, ranging from one to 21 mukhis (faces), spatikalingam, spatikamalas, navarathnamalas, jewellery made from rudrakshas and books on them, began in C P Art Centre on Eldams Road, Chennai, yesterday.

        Briefing on the exhibition and the importance of these holy beads to the media, rudraksha specialist and the director of Indo-Nepal Rudraksha Organisation Panduranga Rao, the organiser of the exhibition, said, 'It (the exposition) is to create awareness about the usage of rudrakshas and to guide people to distinguish the fake from the real ones.'

        He said the rare rudraksha beads and the very rare Garba Gauri were on display. These had not been exhibited anywhere in the country, he added.

        The rudrakshas collected by his organisation for the past 13 years were being exhibited in these stalls. Rao further said that for the first time, the purchaser of these beads would get a detailed lab report on quality of the bead, expert opinion and lifetime guarantee card for the bead at the stall itself.

        On 16 February, a special pooja would be conducted at venue for a rare spatikalingam brought from Rameswaram. The exhibition would be on till 18 February.