The 'bans' ('offset cutting') technique traditionally used for planting large bamboos (Dendrocalamus and Bambusa) in E. Nepal is described so that it may be used in other parts of the country. Successful propagation may be achieved by selecting a young (1 yr old) pole, cutting above head height and cutting the whole of the new rhizome where it branches from the mother rhizome. In this way damage to the soft tissues and buds of the young rhizome is avoided. The rhizome should be planted (deep enough to support the pole) in May or early June before its buds have developed into shoots. Use of poles alone is rarely successful since they have to be planted early before their buds develop (from March onwards) and the new shoots are killed by the dry spring. Rhizome buds develop later (from June onwards) and may not grow much at all in the first year. During this period the presence of the pole and a few shoots maintains the rhizome in a healthy state.