Across India, nativity sets that fuse local aesthetics and Christian art usher in the spirit of Christmas

From miniature ivory heirlooms to mechanised mangers, the Nativity scene is interpreted in villages and towns across India to celebrate the season of festivities

Come December, every corner of Jaikumari Rajenesh’s house in Thiruvananthapuram gets a dash of Christmas colours in red, green and gold. But the decoration is not complete till she sets out her treasured 35-year-old Nativity set comprising baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, the three wise men, the angels, sheep, oxen and camels.

“That is when I feel the house is Christmas-ready. It is a porcelain set that I bought from Singapore and now it is a family tradition to arrange it on the first Sunday of December, in the beginning of the season of Advent. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Many families follow this practice,” says Jaikumari, who hails from Nagercoil.

Like her, every Christmas, Chennai resident Sheila D’Souza arranges her 40-plus-year old Nativity figurines that she bought from Mangalore. “Made of clay, the Nativity set is as good as new. I used to keep it for every Christmas till January 6 (Epiphany). However, this year, I have given it to the Alumni Club on Boat Club Road for their Christmas décor.”

The Nativity set that Vilma Vaz has, was passed down from her mother-in-law, Hilda Vaz, when she came to stay with her son around 2010. Says Vilma: “It has been with us since then. She had two sets, one that is quite big has Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus. The smaller set has several pieces such as the shepherds, the Magi and the angels in addition to the Holy Family.”

In Goa, an ivory figurine of infant Jesus in a crib is a family heirloom that is passed on from one generation to the other, says Natasha Fernandez, curator of the Museum of Christian Art in Goa.

Natasha explains that this precious possession is still part of the Nativity scene in certain homes in Goa. “We have two such exquisitely worked ivory figurines of Infant Jesus in the Museum. It is a fusion of India aesthetics and Christian art and the figure is adorned with anklets, bracelets and a waist band.”

However, the ivory figurines of Infant Jesus were for the affluent. Most families would settle for those available in neighbourhood shops selling gaily coloured Nativity sets with cribs and figurines. Most families would settle for those available in neighbourhood shops selling gaily coloured Nativity sets with cribs and figurines. Victor Hugo Gomes, founder-curator of Goa Chitra in Benaulim , says the set in his family home must be more than 50 years old. “After Christmas, it is taken down and stored carefully to be used next year. The crib was made by children in the village using material that was locally available. That was an interesting feature of Nativity scenes during our childhood.”