Elsa Angel Rose
Baking became more than a hobby when people around me started really enjoying what I baked and encouraged me to sell it. Once I started taking a few small orders and saw the response, it made me realise that this was something I could actually build into a small business,” shared Rhea D’souza, a cake baker from Panjim. Rhea started baking a couple of years ago out of intrigue, interest and love for desserts. “It began as something I enjoyed doing in my free time, trying out recipes at home and experimenting in the kitchen. Over time, I started getting more interested in perfecting textures and flavours, especially with chocolate-based desserts,” said Rhea. What started as a simple hobby slowly turned into something she is really passionate about, and that’s how her baking journey gradually grew. Rhea loves baking brownies and cupcakes, and experimenting with flavours to create new combinations. “It’s really satisfying to see people enjoy something that you’ve created from scratch,” said Rhea.
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CARRYING FORWARD A SWEET LEGACY
Not just a hobby, but an ode to her father‘s love and passion. Durva Ganaraj Shirodkar from Navelim is a cake artist and founder of Cakeworld, gracefully carrying forward her dad’s legacy. Durva always had an interest and passion for baking; she was engaged in it as a hobby, but in the years 2018-19, she started baking full-time. “When I first started baking, I never imagined it would turn into my career. I always enjoyed experimenting with cooking and baking at home. Growing up, I watched my dad work on cakes, so in many ways I was always surrounded by it. In 2001, my father started Cake World with a lot of passion and creativity, and seeing his work from such a young age naturally inspired me,” said Durva. She bakes a variety of delicious and beautiful cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more. Especially custom-made celebration cakes for different special occasions. She ensures that healthy baking is continued. It was especially during lockdown that she got to experiment with flavours and grow more confident in the art of baking. “My dad’s experience helped guide me and gave me confidence. Over time, baking became more than just a hobby. The appreciation and feedback from customers motivates me to keep learning and improving,” said Durva.
STITCH BY STITCH: CROCHETING WITH PASSION
Noleen Aguiar is a first-year law student who has her venture, Enchanto Arte. “I got interested in crochet when I was in the 9th standard, after seeing my grandmother crochet. Watching her sparked my curiosity, and she taught me the basics. Later, I continued learning through YouTube tutorials and online crochet patterns,” said Noleen. From such a young age, without any complaint, with much passion, Noleen has been balancing her studies along with her passion. “I balance my studies and crochet by managing my time based on my orders. Since I work mostly on an order basis, if I receive an order on a particular day, I focus on completing it and study the next day instead. Sometimes the work is time-consuming, and I stay up late to finish orders, but overall, I try to maintain a balance,” said Noleen. When asked about whether she will take crocheting as a full-time profession, Noleen replied, “If it became a full-time profession, I would likely have to repeat the same products again and again, which could take away the creativity and enjoyment. So I prefer keeping it as a passion and a part-time venture.”
CHASING PASSION THROUGH CAPTURING MOMENTS
It was while he was pursuing engineering that Ancel Dias found his passion for photography. The next agenda for him was to inform his parents about his interest. “During my college days, I started shooting with my phone. Later, I told my parents that I love photography and want to learn more about it. My mom was very supportive and suggested that I enrol in a professional course. My parents gifted me my first camera to start my journey,” said Ancel. Although he had an interest in photography as a hobby, it soon became his profession. The next step in his journey came when Fr Peter Britto from his church supported him in his shoots. Ancel is immensely grateful for the people who have mentored him and helped him throughout his Ancel Dias journey. “When I first started, the competition was so intense that getting leads felt like an uphill battle. It was a struggle to stand out, but once I found my rhythm, everything changed. Now, the business flows much more naturally, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” said Ancel. When asked about whether there were any downsides to turning his passion into a profession, he replied, “Navigating early stage struggles was a massive learning experience; f inding solutions to complex problems is, honestly, the best part of the job. It’s exactly what has built my confidence as a photographer today.”
