You don't quite realise it's been a year already until the invite arrives. The annual state exhibitions are back and the middle of the month brings two calling. There's Andhra Pradesh's 'Lepakshi' camping at the Panchayat Bhawan in Sector 18, while the southern spectrum of the city is hosting Rajasthan in all its finery at the Rajasthan Bhavan in Sector 33. With the weather playing perfect host, coupled with a lazy Sunday we decided to air out our shopping bags and headed for the two 'stately' events. Here's a handy guide to what's on offer, for how much and what's worth it. Read on:

* Crafts and more: Back for the third year in a row, the exhibition on at the Rajasthan Bhawan packs in 75 stalls offering quintessential Rajasthani arts and crafts. While clay pottery artefacts grab attention at the gate, move in and you'll spot many regulars with block-printed fabrics and its versions. Coming in from Jaipur are pretty 'laakh' bangles in vibrant shades including some glitter-heavy ones. These are priced between Rs 30 and Rs 700. These are housed next to a stall boasting of jewellery kundan-meena work. Speaking of jewellery, the exhibition is dotted with stalls offering a range of silver and stone embellished collections. As far as prices go, you can bring home danglers for as less as Rs 400 to a silver with gold polish kundan bangle set for Rs 1,800. If you are looking for linen for the home, then the exhibition has plenty to choose from. Bedspreads, bedsheets, cushion covers, tableware, block-printed to embellished, take your pick. But if you are particularly fond of block-printed suits and fabrics, then step down to the basement where you can choose from a variety. "The response has been great all these years and to match that we are rolling out a lucky draw scheme as well," mentioned one of the organisers Deepak Bhandari. So if you shop for Rs 500 and more you are entitled to enter a lucky draw. Prizes up for grabs include a laptop, digital camera, a TV and much more. Hosted in association with the Rajasthan government, the exhibition also brings in a taste of the state with its food counter alongside special churan and namkeenwallahs. "The menu will be changed very day offering special Rajasthani fare," informed Bhandari. So if you haven't yet tasted mirchi ka pakora or dal bati churma, then now's your chance. Keeping shoppers entertained all through the 'Rajasthani Arts and Crafts Festival' will be special cultural performances every evening at 7 pm.

The exhibition is on till February 22.

* Full spread: Elsewhere at the Panchayat Bhawan, you can choose from the traditional crafts of Andhra Pradesh at their annual Lepakshi exhibition. With summer not too far, there's a range of cotton fabrics and suit materials to choose from. The Kalamkari range comes highly recommended and if you particularly like the print then there are many options here. Also finding place in the exhibition are silk scarves, a pearl jewellery collection from Hyderabad, crotchet lacework from Narsapur, silk Dharmavaram and Pochamppalli sarees, leather lamp shades, cotton durrie, brassware and much more. Speaking of fabrics, there's a pretty range of Ikkat weave suits with matching combinations. As far as prices go, expect to bring home a durrie for as less as Rs 250 to a pearl set in contemporary styles for Rs 1400.