Wary of Covid, Gujaratis skip blowing candles on birthday cakes

VADODARA: Tejas Patel, an Ahmedabad-based builder, didn’t miss blowing out the candles on his birthday cake on April 24. He ritualistically closed his eyes, made a wish and then shocked everybody with his innovative idea. “He used a hairdryer to blow out the candle as he didn’t want to risk passing bacteria from his mouth on the cake. We took precautions due to the coronavirus outbreak,” his wife Preeti Patel explained.
Even Ram Shitole didn’t have candles on his birthday cake, celebrated a fortnight ago. Instead, the Barodian, who works as food and beverages manager, lit a traditional earthen lamp beside the cake and had sumptuous dinner with his family.

Nobody knows who, how or why this piquant ritual started, but a birthday in modern times is incomplete without the customary blowing out candles on the cake. However, in June 2017, researchers at Clemson University including Paul Dawson, reported that this act also deposited a large number of bacteria on the cake — a theory that Covid-wary Gujaratis are totally agreeing to. The study done by the South Carolina varsity revealed that blowing out candles increases the level of bacteria on the cake by 1,400%!
“I didn’t want to risk the health of my family and well-wishers. I cut the cake directly amid loud cheers and it was as tasty,” Ram told TOI, with a chuckle.
“Birthdays are always special and blowing out candles make it extra special. But this time I skipped the tradition due to Coronavirus scare. We didn’t want to take any chances,” said Class XI student, Tanisha Lister.
“We have always provided designer candles with our cakes. But since the pandemic outbreak, people have not been asking for candles any more. Many clients have stopped the ritual of blowing out candles altogether,” said Disha Naik, a pastry chef from Vadodara.
Jugal Thakkar, who stays in Ahmedabad, didn’t even cut a cake on his birthday on May 11 as he wanted to avoid bakery items prepared in shops to stay safe. “Amid the threat, I didn’t want to risk anyone’s health in my family,” he said.
“Some of my clients have switched to more safer cake options. Priyanka Patel, a customer, celebrated the birthday of her twin brothers earlier this month by simply cutting the cake and then sending cup cakes over to their friends,” said Kiran Amin, who runs a patisserie in Ahmedabad.