Blowing out the candles on your birthday cake can actually be an unsanitary experience

In a country like India, fire holds deep spiritual significance and is considered auspicious. It is traditionally believed that it should not be intentionally extinguished.

S M Fayaz, Consultant – Internal Medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru concurred, sharing that blowing candles spurs on movement of bacteria from your oral cavity to external substances, whether it is cake or anything else. “With rising awareness of viruses in a post COVID era, logically when you blow something, oral flora can land there. This phenomenon has also been backed by several studies,” he said.

However, Jacob added that in a country like India, fire holds deep spiritual significance and is considered auspicious. It is traditionally believed that it should not be intentionally extinguished. To honour this belief while ensuring hygiene, he recommend using sparkler candles, which light up with radiant sparkles, preserving the sacred essence while enhancing the celebration.