Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal is engaged to portray the story of mankind in time and space. The Sangrahalaya promotes research and training for salvaging and revitalisation important cultural traditions which are on the verge of extinction. The exhibition on ‘Bamboo Arts and Crafts of India’ at Avritti Bhawan, Manav Sangahalaya is attracting visitors.
The exhibition on Bamboo Arts and Crafts of India is a humble attempt to showcase the vibrant cultures of bamboo utilities in India to mark the celebration of the ‘World Bamboo Day’. India ranks second in the world in bamboo production next to China. This potential gift of nature has been a source of livelihood to many of the cultures and civilizations. Bamboo provides basic raw material for fulfilment of domestic, economic, and socio-religious need of the people in India where this amazing perennial grass is found in abundance. The multiple uses and inherent qualities of bamboo have enabled man to make many innovative products. Products of bamboo are sustainable and environmental friendly. The bamboo has high regeneration capacity. This versatile group of plant which is capable of providing economic livelihood and security to the people is 12.8 per cent of the forest cover in India and two-third of the growing stock are located in the North-eastern States.
Apart from the construction uses, young shoots of some species of bamboo are used as delicious items of food to many cultures. From cradle to death, from simple toys to the gracious art forms and from craft to techno-craft bamboo has shaped many of the human cultures and civilization. In many areas bamboo is widely used for navigation and transportation purposes. It is used as floats for transportation of timbers and other heavy materials through water route.
Displayed in the exhibition the selective items accumulated by the Museum over the years of its inception. The exhibition highlights typo-functional categories of bamboo baskets, fishing and hunting tools, agricultural and horticultural uses, wetland activities, bamboo in rituals and religious ceremonies, musical instruments, textile traditions, warfare and weapons, households, food and culinary traditions, market utilities etc. This exhibition is an attempt of the Museum to give a fair and complete picture on the incredible uses of bamboo in livelihood and culture of different bamboo regions in India.