The night market, an institution often associated with the lower class, is moving up in status. The crowds can now enjoy cleaner places, yet ones that are still in line with their income. With the changes made over time, the nightly activity has received widespread attention.
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ERIKA KURNIA FOR KOMPAS
A night market is held in the parking area of Bintaro Jaya Plaza, South Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday (19/9/2018). The modern night market, which carries the concept of "mamam, main, motret" (eat, play, take pictures), is held from Aug. 30 to Oct. 30, 2018. In addition to attractions like a Ferris wheel and swing ride, the night market also features a culinary bazaar and well organized and contemporary photo settings.
The night market, an institution often associated with the lower class, is moving up in status. The crowds can now enjoy cleaner places, yet ones that are still in line with their income. With the changes made over time, the nightly activity has received widespread attention.
Delighted visitors were seen in the parking area of Plaza Bintaro Jaya in South Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday night. The atmosphere evoked childhood memories of parents bringing excited children to the night market.
Dian Daniati, 29, could not stop capturing the moment with her smartphones when her two children boarded a Ferris wheel.
Her 3-year-old daughter waved and shouted happily as she climbed down the gondola with her 8-year-old brother. The residents of Pondok Ranji felt refreshed at night as they enjoyed outdoor entertainment without the daytime heat.
There was the Ferris wheel, a carousel, a swing ride and many other attractions rarely found in villages nowadays. "Now is the time for my children to feel the excitement of entertainment like this," Dian said. The simple games and attractions, which cost between Rp 5,000 and Rp 35,000 each, are enough to put smiles on children’s faces.
Recalling her own childhood, Dian said the night market was not as exciting then as it is today. It was a bit messy as traders were crammed in any place, and some of the rides were rusty.
In the same area, Soleh and his family, residents of South Jakarta, seemed to be fond of playing kora-kora and haunted house. His two children, 2 and 6 years of age, were whining for another ride after having had two already.
Soleh did not mind taking his children there. The games, such as throwing cans, claw puppets, throwing a basketball and trampolines are considered beneficial for developing dexterity in children. Activities like this are more interesting than sitting for hours in front of a television or playing with gadgets.
Capturing the moment
In addition to different kinds of games, it is also interesting to capture the moment at the night market. A place with a European-style home terrace, a two-dimensional caravan car with open windows and a giant star-shaped photo frame are the best spots to take photos.
The same goes for a number of signs with unusual street names, such as "Jl. Kemana Aja" (Going Anywhere St) with a subtext reading "The important thing is being together". There are also boards referring to the names of Jakarta areas with comical twists, such as Kebayoran becoming "Kebayang Kamu Seorang” (Remembering Only You).
ERIKA KURNIA FOR KOMPAS
A night market is held in the parking area of Bintaro Jaya Plaza, South Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday (19/9/2018). The modern night market, which carries the concept of "mamam, main, motret" (eat, play, take pictures), is held from Aug. 30 to Oct. 30, 2018.
Small markets like this have attracted the attention of new visitors, some of them taking pictures on their smartphones that night at Plaza Bintaro Jaya.
Bok Welly Wijaya, the president director of Rockwell Star Indonesia Entertainment, the organizer of the night market, saw a need for such outdoor entertainment. Opened in 2017, the night market has a concept he calls "Mamam, Main and Motret" (Eat, Play and Take Pictures). "At night markets like this one, some people come to reminisce with conventional rides. We also see many young people, who like the spots to take photos to be uploaded to social media," he said. According to Welly, people\'s passion for sharing moments on social media helps promote the business.
Improved image
The revival of the night market requires organizers to improve the image of public entertainment. Welly wants convince visitors that the night market is safe, clean and affordable. According to Welly, a well-organized night market is an attractive selling point.
Departing from the traditional theme with a nod to the digital era, the adventures in the area are complemented with a virtual reality (VR) game. Users can watch 360-degree VR videos using special glasses that are connected to a motion chair that provides additional sensory experiences, such as vibration and wind.
While night markets in Indonesia today are different from the past, their roots can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century, during the Dutch colonial era, when Governor-General AWF Idenburg pioneered the first and largest exhibition called Tentoonstelling in Semarang in 1914 (Kompas, 3/7/2006).
The exhibition was held to celebrate 100 years of the return of Dutch sovereignty over the Dutch East Indies from the hands of the British. At the time, the exhibition displayed plantation crops exported from Java, such as tobacco, coffee, tea, sugar and rubber as well as handicraft and industrial products.
The night market concept later developed on Java Island with a variety of folk markets that presented art, culture and various goods and regional specialties. In 1967, Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin gathered all night market organizers in Jakarta on the anniversary of Jakarta on June 22. The move became the forerunner of the Jakarta Fair, which later became an annual event on the city’s agenda.
The residents enjoying the night market at Bintaro Jaya Plaza did not think that far. They just want the night market to stay close to the people, even though they are now much better. The changing of times should not change the love of citizens in a place like that.
