Floating Markets of Banjarmasin: A Glimpse into Borneo Island's Traditional Market.
Explore the captivating charm of Banjarmasin's floating markets nestled within the heart of Borneo Island, providing a glimpse into the realm of traditional commerce. Of these markets, Pasar Terapung Lok Baintan shines as a symbolic bastion of tradition and trade. The market's distinctiveness lies in its employment of jukungs—engineless boats—as platforms for showcasing an array of goods sourced from gardens, farms, and households.
Notably, women traders play a central role in this traditional market. Cloaked in the traditional tanggui—a wide hat intricately crafted from sago palm leaves—they offer a diverse array of items, including the unique TANGGUI—a cap imbued with anti-solar cold powder for facial protection. This vibrant trading spectacle unfurls each day, commencing around 5:00 AM and concluding by 7:00 AM WITA.
An alluring aspect of this market is its unwavering adherence to the ancient barter system, known locally as "bapanduk" in the Banjar language. This practice echoes a compelling historical narrative intertwined with the Muara Kuin Floating Market. Rooted in the legacy of the Banjar Kingdom's inception, possibly predating it, this market gained prominence during the mid-16th century. Sultan Suriansyah's visionary establishment of a kingdom along the Kuin and Barito rivers laid the foundation for Banjarmasin's evolution. Trade flourished along these waterways, naturally giving rise to the emergence of the floating market.
Remarkably, the market's influence extended beyond Kuin's residents, attracting traders from the Tamban, Anjir, Alalak, and Berangas regions. This combination of cultures, nurtured by the convergence of multiple tributaries, catalysed the market's organic expansion. The evident empowerment of women in this realm is distinctly observable from this unique vantage point.
Delving into the historical fabric, one discovers the profound interconnectedness between the market and the Banjar Kingdom's socio-economic dynamics. The market functioned as a pivotal catalyst, fostering the economic growth of the region. Importantly, trading networks extended beyond local boundaries, encompassing merchants from Java, Gujarat, and even China.
In essence, the floating markets of Banjarmasin vividly depict the tapestry of traditional trade, cultural vibrancy, and historical evolution. These markets serve as a testament to the past while embodying a vibrant spectacle of the present, encapsulating the enduring spirit of commerce and community
