Actress June checks out an earring at Temptations 2009 in association with The Telegraph. Picture by Anindya Shankar Ray

The pre-rakhi shopping spree continues in the city as the Ice Skating Rink comes alive with Temptations 2009 in association with The Telegraph. Presented by The Inner Wheel Club of Central Calcutta, the shopping bonanza got off to a rollicking start on Tuesday with actress June throwing the exhibition open. And in case you’ve still not managed to lay your hands on the perfect gift for your dear brother, drop in at this mela that’s on till this evening (July 23), between 10am and 8pm.

The 20-year-old exhibition has lined up 69 stalls, including 25 from Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi. Rakhis form a big part of the three-day display. Starting with basic options, the fare also includes fancy rakhis in jadau finish. “The Jodhaa Akbar style rakhis are very popular this year,” says Rachna Kejriwal, one of the participants. For the little ones, she has rakhis inspired by the Vodafone ZooZoos, the toon character Sinchan and Akshay Kumar-starrer Singh is Kinng. Prices start at Rs 5 and go up to Rs 350.

Temptations 2009 has a wide selection of gift items, too. Clothes, jewellery, bed linen, lucky charms and accessories like stone-studded bags and blingy chappals will give you enough to browse through. Spectrum Artcomm’s stall is a must visit for personalised calendars, starting at Rs 300.

“Last year 6,000 people came in. This year too we are expecting the same kind of turn-out. The money raised through this exhibition will go to Apnalay, an old-age home near Thakurpukur Cancer Hospital,” said Sudha Chowdhury, president of the club. Next on the agenda is Fashion Quotient, another exhibition to be held at the Hyatt Regency on September 19 and 20.