Bamboo paraphernalia wows Bengalureans at weekend fest

BENGALURU: From trinkets and home furnishings to cosmetics and food items, one can find it all here. These are no ordinary exhibits but ones carved out of bamboo.
A two-day bamboo fest, which kicked off at the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) in Malleswaram on Saturday , drew visitors in hordes. Apart from stalls, there was much to keep them engaged -workshops, musical hour and fashion show.A joint initiative of IWST, Centre for Green Building Materials and Technology (CGBMT), Manasaram Architects, Bamboo Society of India (BSI), RR College of Architecture and IPIRTI, the fest was organized to celebrate World Bamboo Day on September 24.
Dr K Sundar Naik, chairman, Bamboo Society of India, said: “Workshops for architecture students under the guidance of mentors from Regional Design and Technology Development Centre and exhibition of their products are an integral part of the fest. Bamboo product manufacturers have come all the way from Puducherry to display the items in seven stalls. The aim to spread awareness about bamboo products.“
For Yamini Manjunath, a fourth-year architecture student from SJB School of Architecture, it was a learning experience. “I strolled in as a visitor but was drawn to the workshop when I saw other architecture students learning how to make bamboo lamps, showpieces and jewellery . I immediately signed up for it and got to know how to make bamboo lamps.Bamboo is strong, flexible, fashionable and durable. Architects can design awesome structures with it,“ she said.
“The aim is to take bamboo products to merchants and create a better market.Bamboo is not only healthy and eco-friendly but can also be used in fashion designing.Mobile amplifiers can be made out of bamboo,“ said Neelam Manjunath, manag ing trustee, CGBTM.
On the nutritional value of tender bamboo shoots, Dr S Viswanath, scientist, IWST, said: “Bamboo shoots are anti-cholesterol and anti-cancerous as they contain an organic polymer called lignin. It has low fibre and fat content and makes for a healthy diet.Not many are aware of bamboo's nutritional value, its strength and flexibility, which has reduced the market for its products.“