Jakarta Fair during Ramadhan feels different

This year’s Jakarta Fair, an annually held event to attract shopping enthusiasts with great sales, has given visitors a different atmosphere because the event is taking place during the Ramadhan fasting month.

Many visitors said it was less enjoyable for them to visit the Jakarta Fair during Ramadhan because they could not enjoy its culinary delights during their visit. “I go the Jakarta Fair with my family every year and apart from shopping, we usually could enjoy its food during our visit,” Nurwasti, a visitor from Cibubur, East Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Similarly, Junaidi from Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, said he did not enjoy very much the attractions offered at the event. “I couldn’t enjoy the cuisines available even after breaking fast in the afternoon. I’d rather perform tarawih [Ramadhan evening prayers] instead of browsing the event’s booths. As a Muslim, I want to improve the quality of my religious service during Ramadhan,” Junaidi said.

Meanwhile, Wiyardo “Ade” Mulyono from Depok, West Java, said he could not visit the event in the evening because his wife had to accompany their children carry out religious activities for Ramadhan at the mosque. “Besides, we have to perform tarawih together,” Ade said.

Ade further said the fair seemed to be getting less popular when compared to last year. “Today I’ve seen less visitors in the afternoon compared to last year’s event,” he said.

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, and Jakarta International Expo managing director Prajna Murdaya jointly opened the 49th Jakarta Fair on Friday, to celebrate the 489th anniversary of the city. The annual event will be held from June 10 to July 17 at the Jakarta International Expo center in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

It is expected that this year’s Jakarta Fair will draw 5 million visitors and register transactions worth Rp 5.8 trillion (US$436.58 million). A total of 2,700 companies have booths at the fair, as well as close to 150 musicians will perform to entertain shoppers. (Jakarta Post)