An Evening at the Bazaar, the Night Before Fasting Begins
It is the last evening before the fast, and the Ramadan bazaar in Johor Bahru is already in full swing. Smoke curls from grills turning skewers of ayam percik, the sweet coconut-and-chilli glaze catching the light. Vendors call out over one another, ladling bubur lambuk into containers, folding murtabak on hot griddles, and pouring air sirap bandung in shades of pink so bright they look lit from within. Families move through the stalls in a slow, happy crush, buying more than they can carry, because tomorrow the rhythm of the whole city changes. Ramadan begins on 8 February 2027, a Monday, and in Johor it is a state holiday — schools are closed, offices slow down, and the first day of the fast is observed with a kind of quiet ceremony that visitors are welcome to witness.
Eat Your Way Through the Ramadan Bazaars
From the first day of Ramadan, bazaars open across major cities and towns, and Johor Bahru is no exception. This is the single best thing a visitor can do: arrive in the late afternoon, walk the stalls, and buy what the people around you are buying.
- Ayam percik — grilled chicken basted in a spiced coconut sauce, best eaten hot off the fire.
- Murtabak — a folded, pan-fried flatbread stuffed with minced meat, egg and onion.
- Bubur lambuk — a savoury rice porridge, often given away free at mosques and community stalls during Ramadan.
- Air sirap bandung — rose syrup with milk, the drink of the season, served over ice.
Non-Muslims visit these bazaars too, and the atmosphere reflects that easy interfaith respect — you will not feel out of place. Go before sunset, when the food is freshest and the crowds are at their most festive.
Join the Rhythm of the First Day
The first day of Ramadan is not a day of public spectacle — there are no parades or fireworks announced for Johor Bahru — but it is a day of visible, lived ritual, and you can move through it alongside the city.
- Sahur — the pre-dawn meal, taken before first light. Some stalls and eateries open in the small hours to serve it; ask at your accommodation where to find them.
- Iftar — the communal breaking of the fast at sunset. Mosques across Johor Bahru host iftar gatherings, and many welcome guests. This is the most memorable meal you will eat in the city.
- Night prayers — after iftar, mosques fill for tarawih prayers, and the sound of Quran recitation carries into the streets late into the evening.
Dress modestly, remove your shoes where required, and follow the lead of those around you. Charity is central to the month — you will see food distributed freely, and you may be offered some.
When to Go and How the Date Is Set
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri, the Islamic lunar calendar, and it marks the month the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Fasting from dawn to sunset is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is obligatory for Muslims during the month.
The official start is confirmed by JAKIM or the state religious council and announced nationally on television and radio, so the exact date can shift by a day with the lunar sighting. For 2027, the first day of Ramadan falls on 8 February (Monday). In Johor, that day is a state holiday and a school holiday — one of only two states, alongside Kedah, where it is observed this way. Plan your visit around it if you want to see the city at its most communal.
Beyond the First Day: A City That Adjusts
Ramadan reshapes daily life in Johor Bahru for the full month: families stock up on food, routines shift to the hours around sahur and iftar, and the bazaars stay busy every afternoon. If you have time, use the city as a base and let the days find their own shape — markets in the late afternoon, iftar at sunset, quiet streets in between. The first day is the doorway; the month is the room.
Check the JAKIM announcement closer to the date to confirm the start, book your stay near the bazaars and mosques you want to visit, and come hungry. The city will feed you.