Ngabuburit Strategy to Stay Economical

Some people choose to spend time before breaking the fast or ngabuburit in "cheap" locations but with "expensive" views. For them, happiness does not always have to cost a lot of money.

Hundreds of people sat cross-legged while chatting in the Alun-alun of the Great Mosque of Semarang City, Central Java, Sunday (16/3/2025) evening. Most of them sat in groups. Some were with their friends. Some were with their families.

Around the place where the people were sitting, there were various types of food and drinks. The dishes that they mostly bought from small traders around the square would be eaten after the Maghrib call to prayer sounded.

Approaching 6 p.m., people's eyes were fixated on a group of men walking to one corner of the square while beating tambourines and drums. Some of them then walked towards the fireworks that had been installed at several points, then lit them with matches.

Bang..bang..bang..one by one, the fireworks exploded in the air. People in the square which is about 3.4 kilometers from Semarang City Hall immediately pointed their phones to the sky, trying to capture the colorful fireworks.

Not long after the fireworks ended, the call to prayer was heard from the Kauman Grand Mosque in front of the town square. People immediately prayed and then sipped the drinks they had prepared.

Among the hundreds of people was Risma (17), a resident of Bangetayu Kulon Village, Genuk District, Semarang City. The high school student came to the Alun-alun of the Great Mosque of Semarang City with three of her friends, Sunday evening.

That day was the third time, for Risma and the three people waiting for the time to break the fast together at the Alun-alun of the Great Mosque of Semarang City.

"We like to ngabuburit and break the fast together here because it's fun, there's a fireworks party. Also, the place here is clean and spacious. The snacks are also complete, there are snacks, heavy meals, drinks, and also fruits. The prices are also quite affordable," said Risma.

Risma said she bought a box of geprek chicken rice and a jumbo glass of sweet iced tea for breaking the fast. She spent Rp28,000 to buy the food and drinks.

Happiness also covers the traders at the Ramadhan Market around the town square. Taufik (30), a zuppa soup trader from Tlogosari Kulon Village, Pedurungan District, Semarang City, said that his sales increased during Ramadhan. In one day, Taufik is able to sell 50-60 portions of zuppa soup. In fact, on weekends, he can sell up to 100 portions.

"Before selling here, I sold at home. In a day, I sold at most 50 portions. So it's more profitable here," said Taufik when met at his stall.

Taufik hopes that in the future, the Ramadhan Market will continue to be held. So that he and the UMKM actors in Semarang City can return to selling and get more fortune to welcome Lebaran.

The banks of the Suramadu River

Another location that is one of the choices of places to wait for the time to break the fast is around the edge of the Suramadu Bridge, East Java. As on Thursday (13/3) afternoon, rows of stalls of sellers of snacks for breaking the fast were seen crowding the area.

The vendors sell various snacks, such as tahu petis, cilok, and egg rolls at affordable prices ranging from Rp 5,000-Rp 10,000 per portion. The vendors also prepare a special place for visitors, with mats or carpets equipped with chairs and tables.

In addition to affordable snack prices, visitors also get a bonus view of the Madura Strait. The Madura Strait is also increasingly enchanting when dusk arrives. The Suramadu Bridge, which stretches 5.4 kilometers above the Madura Strait, is also a typical sight. Moreover, the time to break the fast is still about an hour away.

Sri Arfianti (25) with her husband Rusliadi (32), some of those waiting for the time to break the fast on the edge of the Suramadu Bridge, that afternoon. When we met them, they had not yet ordered a menu to break the fast because they were still enjoying watching the scenery around the Suramadu Bridge.

The couple came from Makassar, South Sulawesi and had only been in Surabaya for three days. Sri was in Surabaya to accompany her husband who was taking a seafaring exam. That afternoon they decided to break their fast around Suramadu.

Initially they tried to find interesting location references to be a place to wait for the time to break the fast. Finally, they found an interesting reference, namely the Suramadi Bridge from social media.

"The Suramadu Bridge is one of the icons here. We were curious so we decided to go here. While waiting for the time to break the fast, we could also see the view of the Madura Strait and the magnificent Suramadu Bridge," said Sri.

Moreover, to enjoy the scenery and snacks there does not require a large cost. According to Sri, if breaking the fast in a shopping center is too crowded. Sri and her husband do like places related to nature as a place to break the fast.

"But as Eid approaches, maybe we will try breaking the fast in one of the parks in Surabaya," said Rusliadi, adding to his wife.

Apart from Sri and Rusliadi, there were also hundreds of visitors waiting to break the fast.

One of them is Latifah (19), a student at Trunojoyo University, Madura. She and her campus friends enjoyed the Suramadu Bridge as the sun set.

They stood on the edge of the beach. One of them immediately took out his phone to capture the moments of togetherness with his friends.

"After college, we immediately agreed to gather here while waiting for breaking the fast together. We know that the snacks here are cheap, he-he-he," he said.

Unlike Latifah, Ratih (35), a resident of Kenjeran, Surabaya, was different. She, her husband and 5-year-old child had planned from the start to spend ngabuburit on the banks of Suramadu. Coincidentally, in the area there were also a number of play facilities for children, such as odong-odong.

"While the capital is cheap, we can still get luxury tourism," he said.