There are many things that make the holy month of Ramadan special. Apart from the restraint, humility and charity that Muslims are encouraged to practise, the mouth-watering delights available at Ramadan bazaars are something that everyone looks forward to.

The bazaars remind us of the spirit of Ramadan. It is a culture distinctive to our nation where anyone, regardless of race or religion, can enjoy what the month has to offer.

The phenomenon of the Ramadan bazaar is Malaysia’s spectacular food and drink. Held nationwide and available only during the fasting month, the bazaar features rows of stalls selling our favourite Malaysian delicacies and drinks in bright splashes of colour.

Stall owners may begin setting up as early as 3pm. From 5pm leading up to the time to break fast, the bazaars are usually crowded with Muslims and non-Muslims alike, eager to get their hands on Ramadan treats.

Follow the scent of local favourites such as ikan bakar or murtabak, as well as Hari Raya essentials like ketupat and rendang, just to name a few. Don’t forget the enticing assortments of kuih-muih to choose from, too!

Vibrantly coloured drinks will spoil you for choice and are a sight to behold.
Also known as pasar Ramadan, a community project to gather information on some of the best food stalls, was spearheaded by RandomAlphabets last year. They coined the term Param (from the abbreviation of pasar Ramadan), and focused on the best that Kuala Lumpur’s bazaars had to offer.

ParamKL encourages everyone to contribute to the website (www.paramkl.com.my) to highlight their favourite stalls at the various pasar Ramadan. They also use social media tools to spread the word about ParamKL.

— By Aisha Hassan