The observance of World Bamboo Day aims to highlight the many benefits of bamboo, support its cultivation, and encourage innovative uses that can contribute to environmental conservation and economic development. It’s also an opportunity to educate people about how bamboo can be a key player in achieving global sustainability goals.
Considering the environmental benefits of bamboo, it is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. This rapid growth rate allows for frequent harvesting without depleting resources. It absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen at a higher rate than many trees, making it an effective tool in combating climate change. Bamboo's extensive root system helps prevent soil erosion and can improve soil quality, making it beneficial for land conservation. The crop requires less water and pesticides compared to conventional crops, reducing the impact on local water supplies and ecosystems.
Since my grandfather's time we used a variety of items made from bamboo in our household. According to my father they used to call a person who used to sit in our 'aangan' and make items such as 'Kull' a cage like oblong basket used to catch river fish, 'irli' a kind of bamboo fencing used around coconut saplings to protect them from cattle, Hindu wedding ritual items (maarwat), like sup, pankho, Valli, vaje, paakit and erwan and 'kurpano', a basket used to pluck flowers for God, for our familyNidhi Raut Dessai, Assolda, Goa
Bamboo has several economic benefits too. It can be used in a wide range of products, including construction materials, furniture, textiles, and paper, creating diverse market opportunities. The bamboo industry supports numerous jobs in cultivation, harvesting, processing, and manufacturing, contributing to local economies, especially in developing regions. Also, bamboo's fast growth and renewability makes it a cost-effective material compared to slower-growing timber and synthetic alternatives. In many cultures, bamboo has traditional and cultural importance, contributing to its heritage and community identity. By promoting bamboo products, communities can adopt more sustainable lifestyles and reduce their reliance on non-renewable resources.
The growing interest in bamboo fosters innovation and education in sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. In Goa, bamboo baskets are an integral part of daily life and cultural traditions. The Mhars who have traditionally been involved in producing bamboo goods, however encounter several challenges today. Historically, they are believed to have come from the South West of India, into Goa and worshiped the demon-God Maru. Sadly, being referred to as a Mhar carries social connotations mentions late Valmiki Faleiro, from Margão.
As a scheduled tribe, the Mhars used to sacrifice buffaloes to appease the spirits of their ancestors. They were considered "untouchable" because they consumed animal flesh and even the bones, much like cobblers who handled cattle hides, according to researcher Valmiki. Further he states that, in the past, if this community visited the so called ‘upper caste’ areas, they had to alert them of their presence by howling or ringing a bell tied around their necks, so that even their shadow would not ‘pollute’ those belonging to the ‘upper castes’.
Basket weaving in Goa has been practiced by the ‘Mhar’ community, since centuries and this is probably the community responsible for the name of the South Goan city, ‘Margão’, i.e. Mhar+gão. The basket weavers produced some exquisite hand-crafted bamboo works on which every household depended. Various works produced by the community included, pantlo (basket), sonnong (big sized basket used for collecting coconuts or selling bread or other goods like earthen ware), volli (vertical cylindrical basket with a square base) , supp (winnowing fan) , dalli (squarish basket with low boundaries), aator/vatri (a mat like structure used for drying stuff) ,kollo (a huge mat like structure rolled to form a cylindrical container for storage of paddy) ,chalni (sieve) ,kurpond (strainer used for straining boiled rice), ainno (hand fan), panje (a cage like basket used to protect chicks from predators like crows and eagles), shempul (very small basket), kongi (basket with a lid used to dump used clothes for washing or sometimes used for storage of rock salt), korond (basket with a lid used to carry sweets given as part of a wedding trousseau), Konni or fish basket, kanyo or mat placed below the dantem (stone mill), ervond or large cane basket, samli or cane pouch, patto or mat, among several other items.
The Mhar community made bamboo products at their residence and sold them across various villages as they travelled walking with them placed in a basket onto their head. Sometimes these Mhars would go to people’s homes and make the stuff required, required. Bamboos were kept soaking for about 2-3 months into fresh/salty water before they were worked on, so as to make them pest resistant. Apart from this, the ‘mhars’ would also sell their products at local church feasts. The feast in Chinchinim, in South Goa was at one time, well known for bamboo works.
It is noteworthy that many of the bamboo works were traditionally smeared in cowdung so as to fill up any gaps in their weave. Cow dung has been shown to have antibacterial activity against a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Vibrio, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus.
Domestic utility items like a winnowing fans called ‘sup’ had been part of Goan lives. I have seen my mother sifting rice on a sup and tossing it to clear it of any residues. The sup had a lovely geometric design and knitted out of bamboo cane. Then came in the sups made of steel. I feel we should return to our bamboo sups. ‘Dallis’ (squarish baskets with low boundaries) made of bamboo interspersed with pink and green coloured strands are used at the time of weddings. I buy bamboo baskets with green and pink knitted patterns to store onions and potatoes, at home. I feel we should patronize these bamboo works and return to our HeritagePrajal Sakhardande, Caranzalem, Goa
'From the very traditional to the ultra-modern, bamboo is definitely a sustainable choice for decor than plastic. Because of its eco-friendly nature and beautiful aesthetic, bamboo has now appeared in many home decor products. I use bamboo in my business of making fruit basket as these are in demand and often given as a token of love for guests and dignitaries during functions’, says Neeptesh Naik from Bicholim.
Rudraksh Raut Dessai from Assolda points out, ‘Atarpato traditionally used as a floor mat for sitting was made up of bamboo and served the same purpose as that of a ‘shendri’.