JOIN USIndian crib finds place in Bethlehem
The set includes humans, animals and bamboo huts with mud walls
Bethlehem, the Palestinian city located in central West Bank, about 10 km south of Jerusalem, has a Kolkata connection. The city has produced the only crib set from India to be displayed at the International Nativity Museum in that city, which is believed to be the birthplace of Christ. The crib depicts the birth of Christ, using the tradition and culture of India, where Christians are the third biggest religious group.
The museum, which boasts of more than 200 nativity cribs from over 90 countries, has been displaying a crib set from India created by Kolkata-based Church Art, an organisation that specialises in Christian motifs and church decorations. The museum, run by Unesco, draws visitors from all over the globe with Indians being one of the largest group of visitors in the last few years.
Museum’s bursar Fr Jesudoss Arokiam said, in a communiqué, the demand for an Indian crib had been there for quite some time. “In 2013, the highest number of tourists visiting the museum was from India. It’s a matter of great honour and prestige that an Indian crib set has found a place among other crib sets stationed in Bethlehem,” he said. Museum’s artistic director Elisa Nucci, said in a message, “We’ve been trying to have an Indian crib set for quite some time. We’re happy now.”
The Indian crib, set on the backdrop of a village, uses traditional dresses like saris and dhotis, with the facial features done on the lines of models created by village artisans. The crib set, which also includes a cow, is made of fibreglass unlike crib sets from other parts of the world, which are made using stone, ceramics, wood or clay. Officials from the International Nativity Museum visited Kolkata in May to collect the crib set,” said Subrata Ganguly, the director of Church Art.
Explaining the layout, Ganguly said that the crib set consists of 12 figurines of various proportions and characters, starting from two feet in height. “The set includes humans, animals and bamboo huts with mud walls. The figures blend in intricately to enact a native Indian village scene. Three kings and three shepherds depict the mosaic of India culture. Our Lady and St Joseph are dressed in typical Indian outfits and the chubby baby Jesus is wrapped in a white vest. The two animals on either side of the crib are a camel from Rajasthan and a cow from north India,” he said.
“The Indian crib set is a simple representation of Jesus’ birth. We tried to display a complete Indian setting through the crib set. The three kings or the Magis, have been attired in royal attire. So, we have a Chola king from south India, a Rajput king from north India and a king from Assam to represent eastern India,” Ganguly said.
Before being sent to Bethlehem, the crib set was unveiled at the grounds of St Xavier’s College campus in Kolkata in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other dignitaries. Ganguly, who has been in touch with the museum authorities ever since planning of the project in 2014, said that the crib set is made of fibreglass and requires a display area of 24 square feet.
Fr J Felix Raj, the Principal of St Xavier’s College, who was present during the crib’s unveiling in Kolkata, said: “It is a matter of great honour and prestige that artists from Kolkata got to design and present the crib set to the International Nativity Museum of Bethlehem.” Dr George Plathottam, secretary of the Office of Social Communications for Catholic Bishops Conference of India, who was also present, said that the Indian setting of the crib is a welcome step. “It expresses that Christ transcends all cultures, and belongs to the whole world. Jesus belongs to India and to the people of this great land too as the crib rightly depicts. The crib is a tribute to all those who have to incarnate Christ’s message in our land,” he said.
Elaborating on the process of commissioning any piece Church Art works on, including the Indian crib set at the Bethlehem museum, Ganguly said that method of developing any unique crafted piece should be an exciting and rewarding one. “The finished piece will enhance the church and give lasting pleasure. In the process there is an opportunity to play an active part in a creative partnership. Planning beforehand helps ensure that the project runs smoothly for the benefit of all concerned,” he said.
Ganguly said that creating the Indian crib set, although difficult, came naturally to artists working with Church Art as the organisation is engaged in designing and manufacturing items required in churches under the patronage and guidance of Archbishops, Bishops, priests and nuns from across India and even in other parts of the world. “We design churches and promote Church Art, keeping in mind the basic guidelines of Canonic law. We develop our ideas of decoration keeping in both aesthetics and the atmosphere of prayer,” he said. Church Art manufactures statues, station of Cross and relief murals, ceramic murals and even stained glass-like windows made of fibre.
Talking about the museum’s significance, Ganguly pointed out that according to legend the three Magis passed through the same spot where the museum stands on their way to meet Baby Jesus. The museum’s website says that it was first started at Turin in Italy but in 1999 it was shifted to Bethlehem. Promoted by Unesco, the much-visited museum is jointly sustained by the Palestinian National Authority and the Italian government. Inaugurated by Pope John Paul II, along with PLO chief Yasser Arafat, it had remained closed during the first Intifada in 2002 and again during the second Intifada in 2008 but re-opened in 2010 in the presence of UNESCO representatives.