‘Takjil’ at Benhil, snack vendors dish up for Jakartans .

Mon, May 27, 2019 / 06:56 pm

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Sweet and tasty: One of the most popular takjil delicacies is the lupis (sugary rice with grated coconut). JP/Budi Sutrisno
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Crowd favorite: Customers line up to buy takjil from a stall owned by Bobby and his sister Ema at Benhil Market in Jakarta. JP/Budi Sutrisno
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Sweet and tasty: One of the most popular takjil delicacies is the lupis (sugary rice with grated coconut). JP/Budi Sutrisno
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Homade: Bobby, a takjil seller, holds lemang(sugary rice cooked in hollowed bamboo). JP/ Budi Sutrisno
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Food hunting: People visit the market regularly during Ramadan to buy takjil. JP/Budi Sutrisno
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Refresher: Sweet and sugary drinks often accompany breaking-of-the-fast snacks. JP/Budi Sutrisno

Budi Sutrisno

Ramadan is an important month for Muslims, who believe it to be full of blessings before celebrating Idul Fitri, which will fall on June 5.

The annual fasting period is also a time for food and snack vendors at Bendungan Hilir (Benhil) Market to increase their profits by selling takjil (breaking-of-the-fast snacks).

Bobby, 38, and Ema, 55, are among the sellers. The siblings have been selling takjil during Ramadan for the last 25 years.

“We have to start preparing the food from early in the morning before setting them up at our stall by noon,” Bobby added.

Among the special takjil they sell are lemang (sugary rice cooked in hollowed bamboo), bugis ketan (cooked rice flour filled with brown sugar and grated coconut), ketupat (rice wrapped in palm leaves) and

lupis (sugary rice served with grated coconut and palm sugar syrup). Families get together to break-the-fast and enjoy the takjil they purchase at the market.

Fitri, 32, and her family are among regular visitors of the market “I come here after working the whole day to hang out with them [her husband and two daughters],” she said.