GUWAHATI, Dec 20 � With Christmas and New Year festivities round the corner, the demand for freshly-baked cakes has increased in the city. Catering to the needs of the occasion, the UBP�s Centre for Alternative Vocation, a voluntary organisation, is organising the 4th Pre-Christmas Cake Festival-2012 at Rajgarh Bihutoli.
The festival was inaugurated today by popular actors Kapil Bora and Nishita Goswami.
�For the past three years, the response to this fest has been excellent and people come to the venue to buy mouth-watering cakes, muffins and other confectionary items along with traditional larus, pickles, etc.,� Miranda Gogoi, programme coordinator of the festival, said. Other than the participants exhibiting their home-made confectionary items, professional bakers are also showcasing their products in the fest. �It is quite interesting to watch cake icing and decoration on the spot by expert decorators,� Vanya Gogoi, a visitor, said.
The UBP�s Centre for Alternative Vocation is a non-profit making Guwahati-based NGO focusing mainly on holistic development of youths and women by providing vocational training to support their livelihood and strengthening their educational status. Many of the participants, who receive entrepreneurship training at the centre�s cooking and baking school under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) free of cost, also showcased their products in the cake festival. One such trainee Mitali Senapati said, �After receiving the training, I have started cake making in a professional way. People approach me for home delivery of birthday and party cakes.�
Other than different types of delicious cakes and muffins of fruit, nut and other flavours, there are also some special preparations for those who prefer eggless or sugar-free cakes.
