MANAMA, Bahrain: Celebrations marking the anniversary of the 12th Imam Mohammed bin Al Hassan Al Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) were held across the country on 15 Sha’aban.

Celebrations included festive gatherings, the distribution of food and sweets, poetry recitals and eulogies performances.

Imam Al Mahdi, who is the great grandson of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him and his progeny), was born in Samarra, Iraq, on the 15th day of the month of Sha'aban, 255AH.

Two thousand Buri villagers tucked into a 900kg cake on 15th night of Sha’aban in celebration of the birthday of the 12th Imam. The cake, measuring 25 metres long and 50 centimetres wide, was thought to be the biggest ever made in Bahrain.

The sponge and coconut cream creation, made in the shape and colour of the Bahraini flag, took seven men 48 hours to make, said team leader Abdulnabi Al Oraibi.

However, he would not reveal the specific ingredients of the cake - saying they had to remain "top secret".

This is the fourth year running that a cake has been created in Buri to mark the occasion. However, this year's cake was three times the weight of the previous one and more than four times its size.