Ramadan in NYC: Fasting, Prayer, and Community Gatherings Begin
Observant Muslims across New York City are preparing to mark Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The holy month is observed with dawn-to-dusk fasting, prayer, charity, and nightly gatherings to break the fast, known as iftar. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is intended to cultivate piety, self-restraint, gratitude, and empathy for the less fortunate.
Daily observances include abstaining from all food and drink from dawn until sunset, eating a predawn meal called suhoor, attending congregational prayers at mosques, reading the Quran, and giving to charity through meals or Ramadan boxes for those in need.
Ramadan this year is expected to begin on February 18 or 19, depending on moon sightings. New York City public schools will close on Friday, March 20, for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Cultural traditions vary across communities, with families gathering for iftar, decorating homes, and participating in local bazaars or night markets. Some neighborhoods observe a “mesaharati,” a town crier who wakes residents before dawn for suhoor.
City events include the NYC Ramadan Night Market in Queens on March 4, nightly iftar gatherings at NYU’s Islamic Center, a “Ramadan Storytime+Craft” at Staten Island’s St. George Library on February 19, a Community Iftar and Concert by SufiCorner at Madison Square Park Tower on February 28, and the fifth annual Iftar in the Park at Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center on March 7.
Ramadan in New York City blends religious devotion with community engagement, offering opportunities for cultural celebration, social connection, and charitable giving.
