Punjab

Spiritual celebration: 12,000-pound cake prepared to mark 12 Rabiul Awal

20 chefs worked for 10 days to prepare the cake

Owais Qarni December 23, 2015

A part of the cake prepared at a shrine in Multan. PHOTO: EXPRESS

MULTAN: As part of the Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH) celebrations, a 12,000 pound cake has been prepared at the shrine of Chaadar Wali Sarkar in Multan.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a shrine manager said that Rs3 million had been spent on the preparation of the cake. He said that 20 chefs worked together for 10 days to prepare the cake.

“They cake will be cut on 12 Rabiul Awal (today) at the shrine in the presence of hundreds of devotees,” he said.

He said that the cake would then be distributed among the needy. “Every year, we prepare the cake to express our love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and to celebrate his birthday in a special way,” he said.

He said that the funds for preparing the cake had been donated by devotees.

Syed Ali Hussain Shah, the custodian of the shrine, said that the cake had been prepared to express reverence for the Holy Prophet (PBUH). “We made every effort to ensure hygiene and cleanliness in the preparation of the cake. All the workers and chefs were directed to follow a strict personal cleanliness routine,” he said.

People from various parts of the country, including Karachi, Gujranwala and Faisalabad, flocked to the shrine to view the cake. Visitors appreciated the steps taken by the shrine management to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

“This is a way of expressing our love for our beloved Holy Prophet (PBUH),” said Ayyan Alam, a visitor.

Another visitor, Muhammad Zubair, said that people had made extraordinary efforts to celebrate their own birthdays. “We should also celebrate the birth of the greatest reformer in the world,” he said.

Muhammad Tufail, another visitor, said that he had come all the way from Karachi to view the special cake. “I arrived here a little late. Otherwise, I would have taken part in preparation of the cake,” he said.

Raza Shabbir, one of the chefs who prepared the cake, said that every year he took part in preparation of the cake. “I volunteer for the job. It gives me spiritual solace,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2015.