Displaying a nativity scene is a well-loved Christmas tradition for many Christian families. While some prefer ‘readymade’ scenes in wood and clay, others prefer ‘mixing and matching’ their own scene as they purchase figurines for the nativity scene separately. There are also those who prefer a more ‘traditional’ manger, one that is made out of hay, grass and other natural materials. However, mangers made out of such materials do not last till the next Christmas no matter how well they are looked after.
That is why Gilbert J. has crafted mangers out of cane. “Earlier, I too used to make pulkoodu [manger] out of traditional materials. I would get annoyed as they would barely last a Christmas. The mangers I have put up for sale here are made out of left over Assamese cane used for chairs. Varnish gives the mangers a polished look. These mangers will last for years,” says Gilbert, who is standing guard by his mangers on the foot path of the road that leads to AKG Centre.
Gilbert says the idea for a cane manger came to him all of a sudden. He designed one, made it and felt it had potential in the market. He and his assistant started making more. “We can make four per day,” says Gilbert who lives near AKG Centre and is a part of the “curtain business”.
The cribs vary in size, the smallest standing at 12 inches tall and the tallest at 26 inches. Two of the cribs on display have ‘njaragana grass’ as roofing and LED lights twinkle bright on the roof. A nativity scene is tastefully arranged inside the manger. Says Gilbert: “This is to give the customers an idea on how to decorate the manger. If they want, we give them mangers with similar settings.” While the starting price of mangers sans any embellishments is at Rs. 1,000, the ones with roofing, lights and nativity scene start at Rs. 2,000.
Gilbert’s roadside stall is open in the evenings.
