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Chennai, Oct 17 (UNI) An All India Crafts Bazaar, showcasing the arts and culture of the country was inaugurated here today by upcoming actor Ms Lakshmi Rai.

On show during the 13-day expo would be 80 to 90 varieties of Handloom and Handicraft items from 16 states, including the famous Jaipur Bangles, Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat dress materials and Chettinad items, having unique antique values.

''We expect about 10 to 15 lakh visitors during the next fortnight before the expo ends on October 29,'' Mr Ashok Sharma, who is organising this unique show to coincide with the Deepavali festival, told UNI.

The expo was aimed at popularising the traditional handicrafts to help the craftsmen improve their earnings without the interference of any middlemen.

The incredible range include heritage collecton of textiles, inlaid panel, black metal, brass, pooja items, acupressure, stone painting, radium, wood carvings, whitewood products, Kashmir walnut furnitures, Orissa sarees, silk pantings, palm leaf engraving, terracotta from Kolkata, semi-precious stones, Rajasthani jewellery and bangles.

The unique feature was the imported Chinese fancy items ''Feng-shui'', known to have high Vaastu values and the original Nepali 'Rudrakshaas' (beads).

Overawed by the presence of vast collections, Ms Rai said ''it sounds very different. You did not get to see such huge collections very often. There are some very rare pieces, which is full of hardwork. I myself will be buying a few things'', she said UNI.