Mumbai, February 27, 2025: Mumbai witnessed the successful conclusion of the inaugural 1st Rastriya Bans Utsav (National Bamboo Festival), a week-long celebration of bamboo’s multifaceted potential, a significant event organized by the Katalyser Foundation in collaboration with esteemed institutions like IIT Bombay and Mumbai University's Department of Innovation, Incubation, and Linkages (MU IDEAS). The festival, which ran from February 21st to 27th, marked the 2nd Rastriya Bans Divas (National Bamboo Day), and brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore the potential of bamboo in various sectors. The festival, the brainchild of Nagpur entrepreneur Ashish Kaswa, a prominent member of the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board, aimed to elevate bamboo’s role in sustainable development, energy solutions, and economic growth. Mr. Kaswa highlighted the critical need for addressing logistical challenges in bamboo farming and advocated for cooperative plantation models to enhance quality and market accessibility.

The Katalyser Foundation initiated this celebration to emphasize bamboo's potential as a transformative resource, aiming to enhance awareness of its ecological and economic benefits. The initial days of the festival, hosted at IIT Bombay, were dedicated to immersive workshops and lectures. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions on bamboo product design and artisan training focused on constructing portal frames with bamboo trusses, promoting sustainable building practices. A comprehensive lecture series delved into the intricacies of bamboo as a material, explored global trends in bamboo construction, offered practical guidance on sourcing and working with bamboo, and showcased real-world bamboo construction projects.

Prof. JB Joshi, chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, delivered a powerful address emphasizing bamboo’s potential to meet 100% of India's electricity needs. He called for accelerated commercialized research and introduced innovative business models for rural India, including BioChar and Biomass Pyrolysis, poised to revolutionize the green energy sector.

The festival’s focus shifted to nutrition and culinary applications on February 26th, featuring a captivating lecture by Dr. Nirmala Chongtham, a Professor at the Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, who emphasized the remarkable health benefits of bamboo shoots, rich in dietary fiber and essential nutrients. Her research, instrumental in understanding bamboo's role in addressing nutritional deficiencies, outlined how its integration into daily diets can enhance digestion and overall well-being. Following this, Dr. Santosh Oinam, an expert in bamboo shoot nutrition, explained the processing method of bamboo shoot and conducted a live cooking demonstration, offering practical insights into preparing nutritious bamboo dishes. Notably, Dr. Nirmala and Dr. Santosh engaged the audience with a live demonstration of traditional Manipuri bamboo shoot cuisines, specifically Usoi Ooti and Usoi Kangsu, showcasing healthy, oil and spice-free recipes made from fresh processed bamboo shoots, thus highlighting the natural and nutritious essence of this versatile ingredient, and further introducing attendees to bamboo-based food products like cookies, noodles, pasta and traditional delicacies. Celebrity chef Vishnu Manohar also presented innovative bamboo-based culinary creations.

Dr. Nirmala and Dr. Santosh, both World Bamboo Ambassadors of the World Bamboo Organization (USA), also shared valuable insights into the organization's history and operations, encouraging attendees to engage in bamboo activism and join the global community of bamboo enthusiasts. During the Rastriya Bans Utsav 2025, Dr. Nirmala and Dr. Santosh showcased informative posters to enhance participants' understanding of bamboo shoots and their numerous applications. These displays provided a comprehensive overview of what bamboo shoots are, detailing their nutritional benefits and traditional uses in local cuisines. The posters elaborated on the processing methods of bamboo shoots, highlighting techniques that preserve their quality while maximizing their health benefits. Moreover, they emphasized the innovative uses of bamboo shoots in food fortification and pharmaceuticals, showcasing recent advancements in research that underscore their potential as functional foods and nutraceuticals. Selected scientific publications authored by Dr. Nirmala and Dr. Santosh, such as those exploring the nutritional composition of bamboo shoots and their role in food innovation, served to reinforce the credibility of their insights and educate attendees on the broader implications of bamboo shoots in health and nutrition. This initiative effectively bridged the gap between academic research and practical application, inspiring attendees to consider bamboo shoots as a vital resource for both culinary and health-related advancements. The Vayali Bamboo Band from Thrissur, Kerala, provided a vibrant musical performance using indigenously crafted bamboo instruments.

Industry expert Chandrashekar Chincholkar presented the Bamboo Sector 2030 Vision Document, outlining a strategic roadmap for large-scale commercialization. Investor Ghanshyam Ahuja, founder of ThinKuvate, announced a substantial ₹100 crore funding approval from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for bamboo-based startups, signaling strong investor confidence in the sector.

In a powerful video message, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to promoting bamboo cultivation and unlocking its vast economic potential. He articulated a vision of a ₹1 lakh crore bamboo-based economy, emphasizing bamboo's transformative role in agriculture, industry, and green energy. Gadkari highlighted bamboo’s versatility in diverse applications, including construction, textiles, biofuels, and hydrogen production, positioning it as a cornerstone of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. He redefined the role of farmers, not just as ‘annadata’ (food providers), but also as ‘urjadata’ (energy providers) and ‘indhandata’ (fuel providers), urging policymakers and industries to invest in bamboo-based enterprises and harness its immense economic and environmental benefits. Gadkari's message underscored the government's strategic focus on leveraging bamboo to drive sustainable development and economic prosperity.

The festival culminated with the prestigious Bans Bhushan Awards ceremony at the F.C. Kohli Auditorium, IIT Bombay to recognize and the visionaries further for the outstanding contributions in promoting bamboo and creating an impact in bamboo technology and sustainability. Among the distinguished recipients was Dr. Nirmala Chongtham, she has been honored with the Bans Bhushan Award in the "Research and Innovation - Groundbreaking Advancement" category at the 2nd Rastriya Bans Divas 2025, recognizing her pioneering contributions to bamboo research in health and nutrition. With over 23 years of focused study, Dr. Nirmala has established herself as a leader in investigating the nutritional benefits of bamboo shoots, advocating for their role as a superfood to combat dietary deficiencies, particularly in rural regions. Her extensive work has led to the publication of over 100 scholarly articles and has positioned her as a World Bamboo Ambassador since 2015, where she promotes sustainable bamboo practices and their economic potential. Dr. Nirmala's commitment extends beyond academia; she actively engages with local communities and policymakers, bridging scientific research with practical applications. The Bans Bhushan Award not only honors her significant achievements but also emphasizes the vital role of bamboo in enhancing food security, health, and environmental sustainability, inspiring ongoing research and innovation in this essential sector.

With the distribution of Bans Bhushan Awards and participation certificates, the 2nd Rastriya Bans Divas 2025, left an indelible mark on all participants, reinforcing bamboo’s crucial role in sustainable development and inspiring a future where this remarkable plant thrives as a key resource for communities across India. The Katalyser Foundation’s successful orchestration of this landmark event will undoubtedly pave the way for future initiatives focused on realizing bamboo’s vast potential.