pasars

Pasar, plural pasars, is a marketplace in Indonesian and Malay-speaking regions where vendors sell goods ranging from fresh produce to prepared foods, textiles, and household items. Pasars are central to daily life in many communities, serving as both commercial hubs and social spaces.

Most pasars are open-air or covered, organized into stalls with narrow lanes. They are typically run by individual vendors, families, or cooperatives and operate daily or on specific market days. Prices are often negotiable, and bargaining is a common practice in many markets.

Common types include pasar tradisional, traditional markets that stock a wide range of goods, and pasar malam, nightly markets that appear in cities on certain days. Rural areas may host pasar tani, farmers markets that connect growers directly with consumers.

Pasars play a crucial economic role by distributing agricultural and manufactured goods, supporting small businesses, and sustaining local supply chains. They also reflect local culture through food, preparation styles, and seasonal offerings. In recent decades, pasars have faced competition from supermarkets and online commerce, prompting modernization, renovations, and regulatory measures to address food safety, hygiene, and licensing.

The term pasars is used to describe these markets collectively in Malay-speaking regions. Although their structures and rules vary by country and city, pasars remain a foundational element of traditional commerce and urban life in Southeast Asia.