Hari Raya Lost In Modernisation

Hari Raya Aidilfitri culminates the holy month of Ramadan where all muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for 30 days as a way to make up for all the sins they committed throughout the year. Every Ramadan, the festivities that come alongside this religious event grow increasingly bigger, arguably more than any other tradition in Singapore. Celebrations are set up islandwide in places like Woodlands, Yishun and Tampines, with the most anticipated and renowned of course being the Geylang Bazaar.

Source: Google Images

Each year as the time for muslims to repent and fast comes round, massive tents holding hundreds of booths are set up from Eunos all the way down to Geylang Serai. Within them, vendors ply anything from furniture, curtains, house decor, lighting and modern or traditional clothing. Even henna stalls are set up to create temporary hand art for children and women, although men are welcome to try henna as well. Singaporeans of all races and religions flock to the bazaar to soak in the festive atmosphere and walk through the brightly lit up and decorated streets of Geylang and Tanjong Katong.

Source: Google Images

What attracts us Singaporeans most to this nostalgic bazaar? It goes without saying that the main event everyone looks forward to the most is definitely all the irresistible delicacies that the traditional Malay food has to offer like Ayam percik, Ramly burgers, goreng pisang and dendeng, with the occasional exciting new booth with unusual yet delicious food to try. This year, however, as the crowds of excited Singaporeans entered the night market, they realised that everything had changed an almost unrecognisable amount. This time round, you’ll find everything from meatballs in a bucket, Thai iced tea, slider burgers even flaming smores desserts and wagyu steak!

Source: mothership.sg

Geylang bazaar has definitely gotten bigger this year, its prices included. Unfortunately, it’s had the opposite effect on its portions. This change has left many dissatisfied, the price of the food compared to the amount you’re getting and its hipster vibe being the biggest complaints.

Source: mothership.sg

What brought on this change, you ask? One simple explanation; cost of rental. In 2016 the Onan Road booth rentals were set at $15 000 for one month. This year, it’s been increased to a whopping $20 000 just for 30 days, although there are less expensive booths in other areas. Tanjong Katong complex and other less crowded parts of the bazaar offer booths with a rental as low as $4000 but can climb as high as $9000. It goes without saying that the cost of rental is still extremely pricey by all standards. This has pressured vendors to offer more creative and trendy food to attract all Singaporeans, non muslims as well. However, it seems like too much of this has had an adverse effect.

Source: mothership.sg

All in all, the prospect of fun and exciting food will always draw a crowd, but there is a certain hold that the traditional and old school memories will always have on our hearts. While the bazaar is still exciting this year, we hope that 2019 will bring back more of the traditional food we loved about it the most.