Feeding the city while fasting: What Ramadan means to NYC’s halal cart workers

For an entire month every year -- the holy month of Ramadan -- the workers running halal carts in New York City can't eat their own food during daylight.

Anyone who has lived in New York or visited the city is likely familiar with the smells -- and especially, the tastes -- of its beloved halal carts.

And yet, for one entire month of the year, the workers running these carts can't eat their own food during daylight.

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast from dawn to dusk. The exact dates are determined by the lunar Islamic calendar, which is a few days shorter than the standard 365-day solar calendar, meaning Ramadan occurs 10 days earlier each year and cycles throughout all seasons. This year, it is being observed from April 2 to May 1.

Abstaining all day from food and drink, including water, is no easy feat for anyone, but those whose livelihoods involve serving food may face an added level of difficulty.