Bhubaneswar : The festive spirit took center stage at the School of Hotel Management (SHM) as the faculty of hospitality and tourism management at SOA Deemed to be University hosted its traditional cake mixing ceremony. The event, which serves as a fragrant precursor to the Christmas season, brought together students, faculty, and distinguished guests to participate in a ritual steeped in history and camaraderie.
Ms. Upasana Nayak, a distinguished member of SOA’s Board of Directors, graced the occasion as the chief guest. She noted that such joyous programs are essential for fostering a positive and vibrant atmosphere within the campus community. The ceremony turned into a sensory celebration as the air filled with the aroma of spices and spirits, signaling the start of the holiday preparations.
Providing a historical perspective to the gathering, Sikkim-based makeup artiste Ethen Sailesh Pradhan explained that the cake mixing ritual is far more than a modern social event. He shared that the practice originated in 17th-century Europe, timed specifically to coincide with the annual harvest of fruits and nuts. This abundance of seasonal produce made it the ideal period for families and communities to begin the long process of curing ingredients for their holiday bakes.
In keeping with this centuries-old tradition, students of SHM meticulously combined a vast array of dry fruits, eggs, and flour. This mixture will be allowed to soak and mature, ensuring the resulting Christmas cakes carry the deep, rich flavors characteristic of the season.
The event saw participation from a wide circle of academic and industry leaders, including SOA Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray and SHM Dean Prof. Susanta Ranjan Chaini. They were joined by Mr. Lipan Patra of The Crown IHCL Seleqtion Hotel, Mr. Rajendra Kumar Nayak of Ambedkar College, Prof. Swarnalata Mishra of Krishna Institute of Management, Ms. Smrutirekha Sahu of Rajdhani College, and Prof. Trilochan Rath.