Ramadan, the holy month for the Moslem is always a festivity in Indonesia. It’s widely celebrated considering the country has the largest Moslem population in the world. During this month, there are many unique traditions as well as cultural shows that attempts to celebrate the festivities of the month. One the marks of the month which is always highly anticipated is the open bazaar.

A creative idea from the Chinese community in town and the city council to create a Chinese Ramadan Bazaar.

Street vendors and hawkers gather to sell scrumptious dishes that people will enjoy after about 13 hours fast. In these bazaars we can find dishes almost from different parts of Indonesia and this time, I was visiting a bazaar that unlike I have ever seen in my life. There was this creative idea from the Chinese community in town and the city council to create a Chinese Ramadan Baazar.

Its location is also located in an area with highly populated Chinese communities. Not only food was available in this bazaar but there were plenty of Chinese-Indonesian cultural activities that was presented. This town has never done this before despite having a sizeable Chinese community and actually is known for its pluralism and inclusivity. So, it was something worthy of appraisal that they’re finally stepping up and being able to create a physical representation of their beliefs to inclusivity and pluralism.

it’s almost like a concert on its own.

I visited the place with a friend of mine after coffee. There were people from all walks of life and interfaith mingling enjoying the loud drums and the ringing clash of cymbals while the Liong(dragon’s) dancer sway left and right. Some people were too focused on recording the performance that it’s almost like a concert on its own.

The whole bazaar almost made it feel like we were transported to a Chinatown. We technically don’t have a Chinatown but this area seems to be the “soon-to-be” officially Chinatown. There were lampions, red lights, and the typical calligraphy you would normally see over a Chinatown.

For someone who used to hangout around this area to hunt for second hand books, there are still run down houses that has never changed. In this area, they also have this typical shops signs from the bygone era that marks its place as a Chinatown. When I walk through the area that night, I wondered, “why didn’t we do this a long time ago?” My parents would have loved it.

The air was filled with something so familiar

There were plenty of Chinese food, snacks and dessert to try but the air was filled with something so familiar, the food from my childhood that’s almost rare to find in town. It has this distinct aroma that pulls me in back to those good times.

The most delicious spring roll is actually made with bamboo shoots

I walked to find where the smell came from and eventually found this stall serving Lumpia (Spring rolls) but made with bamboo shoots. These days, Lumpia sellers fill their rolls with chicken or sausages but the classic and most delicious one is actually made with bamboo shoots. It has such a distinct aroma compared to the regular lumpia. These days, if I were to want this authentically, I might have to travel far to another province just to taste a heavenly bite of it. I got a portion for $1 with 4 of them in a plastic box for my mom and I.

There were still some activities and entertainment on the main stage. As I saw some elderly dressed in bright Qipao and held hand fan. I wanted to see it but it was drizzling and I didn’t bring umbrella. I would have loved watching the performance as this is something I only watched a couple years ago with a group of my friends back in Yogyakarta.

It was cultural fusion; a sign of inclusivity and openness of townspeople and the Chinese community who are no longer afraid of showcasing their culture.

There were a few more open bazaars in town but nothing beats the uniqueness of this one. It was cultural fusion; a sign of inclusivity and openness of townspeople and Chinese community who are no longer afraid of showcasing their culture and assimilate with their surroundings.