By Irfan Mohammed
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Hundreds of seasonal stalls or kiosks commonly known as Bastas have been doing brisk business in different localities of the city.
Bastas have been found to be bursting with crowds thronging for a taste of traditional Hejazi food during Ramadan nights.
This year, there are more unofficial Bastas than the officially sanctioned ones as whenever youth find space for a cart and a stove, a Basta emerges on the street corners.
Bastas attract many people during Ramadan. The Bastas are the main distinctive features of Jeddah city where makeshift stalls decorated with traditional Hejazi style and attendants wearing Hejazi turbans. They sell mainly spicy fried lamb liver known as kibda, chickpeas, French fries, other varities of potatoes and traditional food items.
People from across the city throng to these Bastas to savor the delicacies throughout the month with the buzz lasting the whole night.
“I have been operating Basta during every Ramadan for the last 15 years,” says Ibrahim Al Najjaji, a Saudi youth.
He told Saudi Gazette that like him several Saudi men and women look forward to Ramadan for an opportunity to run stalls and eran some money.
Bastas provides self-employment opportunity to unemployed Saudi youth and hence authorities are strictly maintaining Saudization policy in allowing these stalls to operate. Jeddah Municipality has approved 815 Bastas this year, according to officials.
Gradually women also entered into this lucrative seasonal business. This year nearly half of Basta operators are women. Jeddah Municipality has accorded licenses to 350 women, mainly widows, divorcees and physically challenged.
The official committee comprising various government agencies is constantly checking whether the stalls are being run by Saudis or expatriates. They also check whether the Bastas are rented out to others.
Earlier Bastas were confined to Qabeel street in Al Balad district and some in Bab Shareef but now they have spread to other locations of the city as well as. Unlike other Bastas, the one in Safa District is largest one in terms of space.
Others are normally 2 to 3 meters only.
There are repeated efforts by Jeddah Municipality to maintain hygiene in Bastas and surrounding areas, yet it is largely ignored by both vendors and the visitors.
