Malaysia's open-air Ramadan bazaars draw crowds with local and Mid-East delights

Traders and restaurants try to keep prices low amid complaints about rising cost of living

- Hazlin Hassan

Ramadan bazaars across Malaysia are in full swing with the fasting month in its third week, with the waft of delicious-smelling food and rows of ice-cold fruit juices in all the colours of the rainbow beckoning visitors from late afternoon till the sun sets.

With their festive atmosphere and eclectic array of culinary delights ranging from local and Middle Eastern staples to more exotic fare such as grilled rabbit meat, these open-air bazaars have become an enduring festive tradition.

As a somewhat more occasional splurge, pricier buffets at hotel cafes and upscale restaurants offer a chance to feast on lobsters and salted egg crabs in the company of close friends and corporate clients.

Despite the common grouse about the rising cost of living, the variety of mouth-watering Ramadan fare continues to entice people to open their wallets, whether it is for smashed beef burgers cooked on a grill at a tented stall or a freeflow spread including lobster pasta at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Street bazaars have taken over public carparks, with entire streets shut to traffic. The larger ones are organised by town councils, while some smaller bazaars pop up at street corners, featuring food stalls on small makeshift tables or even operating out of the back of lorries.

"People here love Ramadan bazaars for the variety of food and the nostalgic feeling of visiting the bazaar." said Dr Aiedah Khalek, a senior lecturer at Monash University Malaysia, who is an expert on Muslim consumer behaviour.

Housewife and mother-of-five Dian Nasron, 50, who was at a bazaar in the Selangor suburb of Kelana Jaya on March 16, said: "We come because my kids want to eat something different and see what's new at the bazaars."

Mingling with the hungry Muslims buying food to buka puasa, or break fast, at sunset are ethnic Chinese and Indians and curious tourists checking out the offerings and soaking in the atmosphere.