NEWYORK: The “Halal Guide Halal Food Festival 2026″—the largest annual halal food festival in the Long Island area of New York—was held at Nassau Community College in Garden City which was attanded by thousands of the participants.
Thousands of participants participated, enjoyed delicious halal cuisine, culture, and traditions from various countries. Muslim and non-Muslim communities—and thousands of families in particular—participated with great enthusiasm in this spectacular festival, which began from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The exceptional turnout created a lively and bustling atmosphere throughout the event.
The event was hosted by Executive Director of the Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs Aun Naqvi.
The event began with welcoming remarks from prominent attorney Ali Shahryar, who greeted the participants, distinguished guests, and the community.
Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips attended the event as the guest of honor. Elanie praised the festival’s excellent organization and commended the Muslim community’s contributions to the local economy and multicultural harmony.
During the program, Nassau County also presented citations to several outstanding food stalls recognized for their high quality.
Comptroller Elaine Phillips toured the various stalls, sampled the delicious food, and praised the quality and hygiene of the cuisine.
Event organizer Raza Dastgir also addressed the gathering. Speaking exclusively to VOSA TV, festival organizer Raza Dastgir said that the event was aimed to bring the community together under one roof to enjoy 100% authentic Halal food and world-class flavors.
He expressed immense joy and gratitude for the enthusiastic response from families visiting from New York and the surrounding areas.
Hammad, one of the festival organizers, noted the large turnout, with thousands of people participating in the event.
He mentioned that significant funds were being raised for charitable causes through the festival.
Hammad added that the community’s continued trust and enthusiastic participation in their events was a source of great joy and honor for them.
Religious and spiritual values were fully respected throughout the festival and organizers made arrangements for the prayers where hundreds of people offered their prayers in congregation.
Renowned Nasheed artist Ammar Sharaf captivated the audience with his beautiful performances.
The event’s main charity partner was the renowned international humanitarian organization, ‘Droplets of Mercy’.
Speaking to VOSA TV, the organization’s CEO, Lisa Vogl, expressed her delight at the partnership and outlined how her organization serves communities worldwide through initiatives such as providing clean drinking water, supporting orphans, and delivering emergency aid.
She warmly praised the festival participants for their generosity and enthusiastic support of these humanitarian efforts.
Over 150 vendors set up stalls at the festival, offering everything from delicious Halal cuisine and traditional South Asian and international clothing to handicrafts and jewelry.
In the food zone, attractions included sizzling BBQ, mouth-watering smoked brisket, aromatic traditional biryani, gyros, steamed momos, burgers, various French crêpes, fresh lemonade, and traditional desserts. Long queues formed at various stalls as participants of the event enjoyed a wide array of Halal flavors.
Thrilling competitions were organized to entertain the crowd, including the ‘ATL Wings Eating Contest’ and the ‘Tex Chicken and Burger Contest.’
Participants took part with great enthusiasm, showcasing impressive speed-eating skills and won various prizes.
A special ‘Fun Zone’ was set up for children, featuring jumping castles, slides, popcorn, cotton candy, and bubble machines that made the day truly memorable for the little ones. Montage/Children’s Entertainment
The participants of the festival enjoyed the various activities, delicious food, and vibrant programs.
New York City Deputy Public Advocate Kashif Hussain congratulated the organizers for hosting such a magnificent festival for the Muslim community. He described the event as an excellent platform for showcasing diverse cultures, cuisines, and traditions, while bringing families together.
He also commended the contributions of the festival’s sponsor, Lisa Vogel, presenting her with certificates of appreciation in recognition of her service to New York’s diverse communities.
The event concluded with the presentation of honorary shields to sponsors and a lucky draw where prizes were distributed to winners.
Renowned Pakistani Qawwal Ali Raza Santoo took the stage and captivated the audience with traditional Sufi verses, “Hamd” (praise of God), “Naat”(praises of the Prophet (PBUH)), and mystical songs. Thousands of fans in the venue swayed to the resonant echoes and soul-stirring melodies of the Qawwali.
