Enjoying the Raya spirit

The excitement of Hari Raya Aidilfitri starts to come alive at its festive bazaars, where traders charm with lively banter and creative salesmanship.

It is no wonder then that they have become a draw, not only for those who celebrate the festival but also for non-Muslims who want to savour the happy atmosphere and special delicacies.

A recent trip to Taman Sri Jati Ramadan Bazaar in Kuala Lumpur, for example, gave me such a surprise as I was recognised by a nasi kerabu seller.

I had only been to his stall once three years ago, and I bought only one packet.

Yet, he smiled ear to ear and welcomed me like we were old friends.

There was no way I could just walk past without buying anything.

To make the deal sweeter, he even gave me an extra scoop of rice, adding that his vibrant blue rice was special as he used butterfly pea flowers that he grew in his garden.

I remember too when I first reported on festive bazaars in Jalan Masjid India and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman back in 2008.

Songkok seller Mohd Zamri Abd Karim had caught my attention because his headgear was a lot taller than the usual ones men wore here.

“I call this ‘Songkok KLCC’. I had it specially made as an eye-catching tactic to attract customers,” said Mohd Zamri, who gladly obliged when I asked to take his photo.

Ketupat-themed lights at an Aidilfitri bazaar in Penang. Malaysia’s festive markets draw locals and foreigners alike. — Filepic

Trader Wan Mohd Ridzuan Harun, meanwhile, had been marketing his baju melayu stock by drawing parallels with colours of luxury cars.

“Since most of the buyers are men, we thought it would be a good idea to tie the product to something that they were familiar with,” he said, adding that it was also a bit of fun to make customers smile.

In Hulu Langat, Selangor, Taman Sri Nanding Residents Association president Muhammad Sherhan Nizam Abdul Aziz, 38, said one of his childhood memories of the nearby Ramadan bazaar was of a trader who started auctioning his food nearing buka puasa time.

“He livened up the whole place with his banter and many customers flocked to his stall.

“Some were lured by the irresistible bargain, others out of mere curiosity,” he said.

The Taman Sri Nanding Ramadan bazaar has been an annual affair since 1991 and many traders enjoy a loyal following.

However, what really impressed residents was what ensued when a flash flood struck the area last year.

The traders, committed to servicing residents, continued with business despite having to wade in knee-deep water.

Local authorities too have played a part in ensuring conducive environments at Ramadan bazaars.

Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) comes to mind for being creative when it comes to ensuring hygiene.

One of its initiatives to encourage cleanliness is the “Best Ramadan Bazaar Trader” contest introduced in 2015.

To score points, traders would make sure their stall countertops as well as trading areas were dry and clean throughout business hours.

Over the years, festive bazaars have attracted a muhibbah crowd including family and friends from overseas.

They are drawn by foods that can sometimes only be found during Ramadan, or the sheer numbers of stalls – Wangsa Maju Ramadan bazaar for instance, is said to have the most number of stalls in Kuala Lumpur with 300.

But sometimes they, like me, visit festive bazaars to enjoy the “warna-warni” (colours and spirit of) Aidilfitri.