'Crib hopping': How Mumbaikars indulge in the annual tradition of visiting cribs during the Christmas season

For the longest time, it has been Kadambari Lobo's annual Christmas ritual to go crib hopping in Vasai. With December being the busiest month for the home baker, she usually prefers to go in January, as she not only gets to spend enough time at the crib but is also able to avoid the crowd that flocks these cribs during this time of the year. For the uninitiated, a crib is a representation of the birth of Jesus Christ -- it can be as simple as a small stable with hay, as traditionally portrayed, or as elaborate as a big palace to depict his arrival.

Every year, Mumbaikars celebrate Christmas like people around the world. Interestingly, many of them take on the task of 'crib hopping' after the cribs are made and set up on Christmas Eve. Simply put, 'crib hopping' is an unofficial term for visiting cribs that are displayed publicly till the first Sunday of January, celebrated as Feast of the Three Kings. People undertake the activity during this time of the year in different parts of the city, and Vasai is only one of the destinations.

Crib hopping in Vasai's villages
Over the years, going crib hopping has become synonymous with the northern suburb. Boasting of many churches and villages with houses that take the effort to set up a crib every year, many Mumbaikars travel from all over to be able to look at them. Lobo, who is a Vasaikar herself, has been embarking on the journey for over six years now. In fact, it is the highlight of her festive season, as she hops on to the bike and accompanies her husband to explore them after midnight.

She explains, "I love everything about crib hopping but the only way to enjoy crib hopping is to see them on bikes because the weather is cold and it is easy to navigate on bikes. I love how much effort people put into the cribs here, and they are always happy to see you visit any time of the night."

Over the years, Lobo has seen many different types of cribs but there have been some that have stayed with her till now. "I have seen an old house turned into a live crib experience with a social message that stayed with me. There are also a lot of cribs that make miniature villages with so much attention to detail that it will shock you." While there are cribs that start closer to Vasai railway station, Lobo says some of the best ones can be found in the interiors in the villages and recommends riding through Bangli, Sandor, Giriz and Papdy villages to start with, if you are coming to Vasai this season.

With years of crib hopping, the 32-year-old Mumbaikar, who runs The Cake Next Door with her, says if you want to go crib hopping then Vasai is the best place to do it. "You must only do it at night, with so many people on the streets just having a good time," she adds.

Such is the love for cribs in Vasai, that the WhatsApp groups have been buzzing with a message encouraging people to visit the cribs, which are a part of the Yuva Crib Contest 2023.

Just like Lobo, even Merwyn Fernandes, another Vasaikar loves to go crib hopping during this time of the year. The Mumbaikar has been doing it for more than 25 years now in the Vasai-Virar region. He shares, "The festive spirit, the pleasant atmosphere, the lighting decor and the positive vibes makes crib hopping even more interesting. The ideas, art and its execution with the minute detailing is worth watching." Every year, Fernandes and his family take on the journey of visiting the cribs, which he looks out for, with the help of social media. These are made by individual houses as well as villages in the suburb.

Over the years, the 38-year-old Vasaikar has seen many themes added to the traditional depiction of the Nativity of Jesus, with statues of Infant Jesus, Mother Mary, and her husband, St. Joseph. "There are also various other characters that are a part of the Christmas crib. People have also made a modern-looking Baby Jesus, others have also added a day and night transition to their cribs.

Armed with a website link from all the entries for the contest, this year, Fernandes is excited to visit one crib in particular. He reveals, "At the crib in Nanbhat, they have a live show enacting the birth of Baby Jesus. We hope to visit there as a family this Christmas."

Creativity and sustainability
Soaking in the buzz around Vasai, even Vishal Rao wants to make a trip to the northern suburb. "I have heard a lot about Vasai. I would definitely like to explore that side," reveals Rao, who has been crib hopping for two years now. Surrounded by Catholic friends, it was only natural for him to join them on these crib hops.

He shares, "There is a lot of creativity and thought put into making a crib. It comes from a place of appreciation on how people work together and create a miniature imitation of the Christmas day, and the three kings coming for a visit later. Plus, it's the sweetest date idea. I usually go with my girlfriend."

To see the cribs, Rao likes to take a nice long walk from Dadar to Wadala because of convenience but doesn't fail to go to Bandra. It is also why he recommends that trail. "You can check out the cribs at Mount Mary and Mount Carmel churches. If you walk around the Catholic lanes of Bandra West, then you are for sure going to witness some beautiful cribs. Brownie points for the lighting and decor there - that's going to get you into the Christmas spirit." Over the years, the 24-year-old has seen quite a change in the way cribs are made and that leaves him in awe every single time. "People have become more conscious, so I have seen cribs made of waste materials, that is in trend. One of my favourite cribs was something I saw back in Goa with life-sized statues floating over a man-made pond," he adds.

Getting the best of Amboli
Elsewhere, Ritasha D'souza has always loved crib hopping and seeing the unique crib designs and how no two cribs are the same. But beyond that, she has now also come to appreciate the message with it. She shares, "Most of the Nativity scenes try to depict the current situations and link it back to the traditional crib or the first Christmas. For example, many cribs this year have tried to emphasise on the brutal killings by war and spread the message of peace." Another crib, the 20-year-old spotted, highlights how we should care for creation around us. "The stable was made from a broken tree stump. The focus was 'best out of waste'. The depiction of brokenness in the current Nativity scenes is also a realisation that Christ was born in an imperfect world. In fact, the first Christmas was a not-so-happy one," she adds.

The Andheri resident, who hails from Amboli, now goes crib hopping in the neighbourhood. She started out almost 15 years ago by visiting cribs with her parents, who used to take her to places beyond the vicinity. "It is nice to see the crib, the star, the neighbourhood beautifully decorated, and the weather adds to the charm. When I was younger, I appreciated the beauty of the Christmas decor and the lights but today I also enjoy the beauty of the message and the hope it offers," adds the Mumbaikar, who goes to Versova and Bandra with them.

Apart from eco-friendly cribs, D'Souza says the uniqueness in the last few years has been the pandemic-themed cribs depicting the crucial role that doctors, nurses and public workers played or the 26/11 incident, the war in Palestine, social issues such as domestic violence, and abuse too. Apart from Vasai being on her bucket list, D'Souza hopes to go crib hopping in Goa, the Holy Land for the followers of Christianity, and the United Kingdom, in the future, but for now, she is going to enjoy the beautiful cribs in Mumbai.