Seasonal vendors make money during Ramadhan
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For Muslims, the fasting month of Ramadhan means a holy season, a time for cleansing their bodies and souls of impurity. But for some people, like the seasonal vendors, Ramadhan is a time to make money.
During the month, you can easily find seasonal markets in almost every corner of the city. For example, in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, in Senen and Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta or in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. These markets are always crowded as the items are cheap and the quality is fair, if you take the prices into account. Consequently, traffic jams in these areas usually get worse.
Hundreds of seasonal vendors have been operating on Jl. Matraman Raya, near the Jatinegara Market, since the opening of Ramadhan. This area is a popular site for street vendors to run their businesses throughout the year, but the number of vendors has increased sharply during the fasting season.
Roni said he came from Pariaman, West Sumatra, last month to sell Muslim clothes here.
"I came together with nine other friends. We have done it for years," he told The Jakarta Post as he arranged his merchandise.
Roni and his friends sell different kinds of items, including head scarfs, peci (caps), sajadah (prayer mats) and mukena (Muslim women's prayer cloaks).
Roni, who brought Rp 3 million worth of capital with him to run the business, handed over some Rp 500,000 to an officer to allow him to rent a space measuring 2 meters by 1.5 meters, located off the road.
The rental fee is for one month only. Besides this monthly charge, he also has to pay a daily Rp 500 security fee to a hoodlum.
"The price is reasonable. I realize that nothing is free here. Besides, other vendors paid the fee as I did," he told The Jakarta Post.
The fee depends on the location. The closer the site is to the road and the bigger it is, the more expensive the fee.
Roni used some of his money to buy baju koko (Muslim men's shirts) from Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta to be sold in Jatinegara, while the rest is for his daily expenditure here.
Roni stays in a relative's house in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta. His other colleagues also stay with relatives or friends.
Roni made a profit of Rp 2 million last year. The amount excludes his daily expenditure here and travel costs.
"Ramadhan means good business for me. I hope I can enjoy similar profits to last year's," Roni said.
Even though Muslim accessories dominate the seasonal markets, you can also buy a range of other products, from shoes, bags and casual clothes, to toys, firecrackers and craft tools. You can even find birds and fish.
A casual shirt is available for Rp 7,500, a pair of baby shoes for Rp 5,000, a peci for Rp 5,000 and a children's mukena for Rp 25,000.
No wonder many people prefer to shop there.
Mirta, 35, said that she likes visiting a seasonal market with her family before breaking the fast.
"My children can forget their hunger and if they want something, I can still afford it," said the employee of a private company in Salemba.
"This market helps us common people who want to celebrate Ramadhan and Idul Fitri," she said.