Baking for the soul: Hyderabad’s home bakers rise for creativity, comfort and community

Hyderabad’s Home Bakers Rise for Creativity, Comfort and CommunityAhead of World Baking Day, Hyderabad’s kitchens are seeing more people swap screen time for sourdough starters, frosting bags and fresh batches of bread. Baking is a creative and calming activity that allows people to unwind, reconnect with family amid busy routines say the city’s growing tribe of enthusiasts. “Post-Covid, people wanted activities that helped them slow down and work with their hands again,” says Arundati Rao, Founder and Academic Director of Escapades Baking and Culinary Academy. Pastry chef and founder of BakerontheHill Aditi Punetha adds, “People attend baking sessions not just to learn, but also to relax, bond with loved ones and explore a creative outlet.”‘The creative freedom baking offers draws people in’What starts as a weekend hobby is slowly turning into an ambition for many city bakers. “I’m planning to move away from my stressful IT job and pursue baking full-time,” says Deepika Hebbatam, an ex-IT professional. Prashanth Pattamatta, a data analytics professional, says, “The endless creativity involved in bread-making is what keeps me experimenting and learning new techniques.” Maria Blessy, a corporate employee, adds that workshops and online baking communities motivated her to continue learning and evolving.‘Baking offers a break from screens and stressful schedules’Amid demanding jobs and long hours spent on screens, many Hyderabadis are finding comfort in flour-dusted countertops and slow evenings spent baking. “You somehow find time for the things you truly enjoy — sometimes I even stay up late at night baking when everyone else is asleep,” says Archana Gopinathan, a corporate professional. For pastry chef Darani Janarthanan, baking becomes a space of complete immersion. “Once I start baking, I lose track of everything else around me,” she says.‘Family, nostalgia & comfort often inspire the first bake’For many bakers, the journey begins with family — from recreating childhood memories to wanting healthier treats for children at home. “I wanted to be sure about the ingredients I was giving my children, especially cakes, cookies and breads,” says Prasoona Palaparthy, a corporate professional, who first turned to baking for her kids. Maria Blessy shares, “The journey started with my son, but over time baking became something I genuinely wanted to pursue seriously and keep improving at.”