Family support and tradition proved to be the secret ingredients behind Neelam Ashika Kumar’s winning entry at the Navtarang Bake-Mas competition, held in partnership with Subrails-Sheffield at the Communications Fiji Limited office.
The Tamavua mother of two claimed first prize of $250 in her very first baking competition, a journey she says began three years ago with encouragement from her 8-year-old daughter.
She says her daughter is the reason she started baking, as she loved everything that was cooked and one day asked her to bake a cake for her.
Kumar’s winning cake stood out for its traditional sand-baking method.
INSERT: Kumar on baking
Beyond the baking, Kumar highlighted the strong family support behind her success.
She described Christmas as a time dedicated to her children and her husband, who is often busy during the festive season due to his service with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
She says her husband’s workmates assisted with the presentation of her display, adding that this Christmas is especially meaningful as her family from Canada is visiting them in Fiji.
Meanwhile, second place went to Adarsh Chand of Valelevu, an anaesthetic nurse at the Sai Prema Heart Foundation, who won $150.
Chand says baking became more than just a hobby, evolving into a vital outlet for managing work pressures and sparking his interest as he experimented with new recipes and techniques at home.
He dedicated his achievement to his entire family, including his sisters in Canada and American Samoa, his brother and family in Navua, and his mother, who was present to support him.
He says his winning entry, a whiskey-infused bundt cake, required patience and precision with an infusion process that took nearly 48 hours, and despite the lengthy preparation, he was proud of the final result and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the competition.
Reflecting on the festive season, Chand described Christmas as a time for quiet family togetherness rather than extravagance.
He is also urging everyone to celebrate responsibly and avoid drinking and driving, reminding families to keep safety a priority during the holidays.
Rounding out the winners was Zyna Nisha of Davuilevu Housing, a mother of three who balances family life with baking as a home hobby, and who won the third prize of $100.
Nisha says her interest in baking was inspired by her sister-in-law, who guided and encouraged her to try new recipes, and most of her baking is done for her children and in-laws, especially as treats for tea time.
She says preparing for the Bake-Mas competition was not without challenges, as her initial batch of cookies did not turn out as planned and she had to start over in the early hours of the morning.
She dedicated her win to her family, thanking her sister-in-law for her constant support, her sister in New Zealand, and her extended family in Lautoka, as well as her mother-in-law and husband.
Nisha describes Christmas as a time of joy, unity and togetherness.
She adds that this year, her family has a busy period ahead due to an upcoming wedding, and they are also looking forward to New Year’s Eve, which coincides with her mother-in-law’s birthday.
She is urging the public to stay safe during this festive season, take care of one another and avoid unnecessary risks.
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