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.