Last-minute festive shopping at markets
GEORGE TOWN: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri just a few days away, shoppers are making a beeline to several markets here for lastminute festive shopping.
At the Taman Tun Sardon market, queues formed in front of a santan (coconut milk) stall.
Housewife Salwa Shariff, 69, was among those spotted buying santan to make curry dishes for the coming Raya.
“Santan is an essential ingredient in curry, so I need to stock up on it. I am also buying a few days’ worth of vegetables, meat and spices.
“But I am cutting down on spending as I will not be cooking as much for this year’s Raya. It will be just me and my husband, so we are preparing only simple dishes,” she said yesterday.
Another housewife, Fazalah Osman, 49, who was shopping for condiments and meat, said she was doing some last-minute shopping to stock up on groceries.
“I am just buying some things I need to prepare for our Raya meals. After this, I will not leave my house anymore until after Raya as these supplies will last for five days.
“Although my son and two daughters are staying in Penang, they will not be joining us for Raya as they will also be staying home with their own family,” she said.
At the Patani Road market, queues also formed outside the premises.
Assistant manager Faten Salleh, 35, took a half-day off from work to complete her Raya shopping list.
“This year, we are preparing more dishes at home to spice up the Raya mood as we are not allowed to visit our relatives or friends in other states. Each year, we will usually travel back to our parents’ home in Kelantan but this year, it will only be my husband, my son and me at home,” she said.
Retiree Zaidi Sulaiman, 69, said he was doing some simple shopping ahead of Raya.
“This year will be a simple Raya for me and my wife as our nine children live in either Kuala Lumpur and Johor, so they are unable to visit.
“I am buying some spinach, ginger, shallots and spices as we already have some meat and chicken stored at home.
“We hope everything will be better soon so that our children can visit again,” he said.