Wholesale market busy in Ramadhan

SURABAYA: Several grocery markets and shopping centers in Surabaya are already crowded with customers looking to buy gifts and groceries for the Idul Fitri holiday, which is less than three weeks away, Antara reported Saturday.

Pasar Turi, the city's biggest grocery market, was filled with shoppers from areas outside Surabaya such as Gresik, Mojokerto, Sidoarjo and Madura. The same scene occurred at other shopping centers such as Kapas Krampung, Jembatan Merah Plaza and Tunjungan Plaza.

Markets get increasingly crowded toward Idul Fitri which is predicted to fall on Nov. 25-26 according to the Islamic calender, and as more people get their Idul Fitri bonus.

"There is an increase in the number of visitors but it is not significant yet. Usually the crowd peaks a week before Idul Fitri," said Ririn, 23, one of the sales assistants at Jembatan Merah plaza.

Insufficient parking spaces were evident.

"I have gone back and forth three times to find a parking lot for my car in Pasar Turi and its surroundings," said Yusuf, 36, who came with his family. He suggested that the management of the market should pay attention to this difficulty.