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Vendors, buyers enjoy Benhil Ramadhan food bazaar

For seasonal vendors that have set up a food bazaar in front of the currently under-renovation Bendungan Hilir (Benhil) market in Central Jakarta, Ramadan is not only a month to enrich religious experiences, but also a gateway to extra income, because many culinary enthusiasts flock to the market right before fast-breaking time

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Tue, June 14, 2016

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Vendors, buyers enjoy Benhil Ramadhan food bazaar

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or seasonal vendors that have set up a food bazaar in front of the currently under-renovation Bendungan Hilir (Benhil) market in Central Jakarta, Ramadan is not only a month to enrich religious experiences, but also a gateway to extra income, because many culinary enthusiasts flock to the market right before fast-breaking time.

It was a cheerful afternoon as hundreds of sellers and buyers cheered together to express joy upon hearing the adzan Maghrib (call to evening prayer) — a sign that the days’ fasting had ended.

A vendor selling Acehnese kolak (compote), Sari, 35, who has been selling takjil (light meals) during Ramadhan for three years in several different places in Jakarta, said that she could sell up to 70 boxes a day, earning around Rp 700,000 (US$52.5) in gross income.

“This is the first year I have run a food stall here. The number of orders is twice as many as at a similar bazaar in Pondok Indah last year,” said Sari, who brought her 30-year-old sister Rika Ariga to the bazaar.

Rika, who sells cups of green banana ice for Rp 15,000, said that she preferred to accompany her sister to kill time while waiting for the end of fasting, rather than spending her time at home as a housewife.

“It is my first experience of running a food stall. Apparently my time is well-spent here because I earn extra income for my family,” said Rika, who claimed to sell up to 100 cups daily.

Vendor Dewi, 40, selling snacks such as mayonnaise rissoles and fried tofu said that although she never sold out, up to 3,000 pieces of snacks were sold daily.

For a month-long bazaar, vendors must pay rental fees ranging from Rp 2 million to Rp 3 million to the organizers, depending on how strategic the location of the stall is. Rental fees for stalls situated at the edge of the street are higher.

The bazaar is routinely held at in Benhil during Ramadhan. Vendors open their stalls from 10 a.m. until around 7:30 p.m. However, most of the buyers flock to the market at 5 p.m., after their office hours and before the breaking of the fast. The takjil on offer include bolu (Indonesian-style muffins), kue mangkuk (rice flour cupcakes) and rissoles. Other mouthwatering foods such as Yogyakarta’s gudeg and West Sumatran’s rendang (beef simmered in coconut milk and spices) are on sales as well.

Buyer Wahyu, 51, said that the bazaar provided a rich variety of options to complement meals being served at his family table to break the fast.

“Main courses and snacks are available. It also provides a different experience, buying food here, because we have to jostle,” said the resident of Kebon Kacang, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Some people also use the bazaar as an opportunity to hang out or buka bersama (break fast together), locally known by its acronym bukber. Six young bankers decided to pay a visit after the hype they heard from the media.

“It’s apparently cheaper than the same snacks sold at Senayan in Central Jakarta, near our office,” said 25-year-old banker Dyah Novalita.

Another group of eight workers agreed, saying that there were certain foods difficult to find at other places.

“It is difficult to find ketupat santan [rice with coconut milk],” said 38-year-old Lina, after taking a one-hour drive with her colleagues from their office at South Jakarta.

“It’s my first visit and it’s worth the struggle. However, the absence of chairs and tables makes it difficult for us to enjoy our meals,” said the employee of a construction company in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta. (fac)

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