Rudrakshas have always fascinated mankind, and not surprisingly, the Rudraksha Expo being held in the city is a crowdpuller.
Showcasing a potpourri of the religious beads, the organizers say that the venue is also a platform to identify the real pieces from the fake ones.
From eka mukha, the rarest one, to the 18 mukha rudrakshas, the expo by Cosmoki also showcases the much-hailed Gouri Sankara rudraksha, Savar, Ganeshmukham, Siddhamala, spadika chains and salagram.
“It’s all about your faith and beliefs,” says N G Murali, director of Cosmoki.
“People still cherish these religious beads and there is a good demand for the seven, eight and nine mukha rudrakshas at the expo,” says Murali, who further adds that only rudrakshas from Nepal are on display at the expo, being held at Police Club in the city.
“With the rise in demand for these beads, fake ones have emerged and they continue to deceive people. Through our expo, we will spread awareness among the public on how to identify the fake ones,” he says.
Is there a simple way out to distinguish the right from the wrong one?
“The eka mukha rudraksha is hailed as the king of rudrakshas and it is the most rare and highly expensive one. It’s price is in lakhs and most unfortunately it is for this genre alone that the fake ones are mostly in. The fake beads come in a cashewshaped form, the seeds of which are sourced from the badraksha tree.
Usually, by observing the deep linings in the bead, an expert can identify the real and fake ones. It is advised to immerse the rudraksha in boiling water for around 20 minutes and in the case of an artificial rudraksha, there will be a sharp curve at the joint,” he says.
“We have with us a sample of the original eka mudra rudraksha, which is strictly not for sale,” says Murali, who is hosting his third expo in the city. The expert further explains the dos and dont’s of handling this religious bead. “Cleansing is a mustto- do job in rudraksha preservation.
It is advisable to immerse the bead in Naalpaamaram mixture overnight and later in oil. It is important to carry on the procedures periodically as there is a risk of the seed inside the rudraksha getting decayed if it’s not properly taken care of,” he says. The items on display range from Rs 500 to Rs 5000. The expo will conclude on October 10. Timings: 9:30 am to 8 pm.