Student-organized “Halal Food Fest” showcases cultural dishes

By: Noor Awan

Student club Muslim Women in Medicine (MWM) hosted a “Halal Food Fest” on the afternoon of Friday, April 17, 2026 in Hornbake Plaza for students and community members.

The event brought many organizations together to showcase their traditional food as well as sell popular halal snacks and drinks to UMD students. Along with MWM, other student organizations ran four distinct stands highlighting their cultural food including the Pakistani Student Association (PSA), the Sudanese Student Organization (SSO), and the Muslim Student Association (MSA), with each stand representing their own unique culture and background.

The event took place to invite students of all backgrounds to join together and try out unique snacks while learning about the different student organizations and what they offer to students on campus. Students were able to try various sweet treats such as brownies, specialty cupcakes, and mango lassi which is a traditional South Asian yogurt drink represented by the PSA. The MWM booth sold specialty cupcakes with the theme of “Fruits of Jannah” sharing cupcakes with Quranic fruit toppings such as dates, figs and grapes, and educating students about the meaning behind their choice of food.

Zoha Ahmed, a junior information science major and co-project management chair holder for Muslim Women in Medicine, assisted in organizing the event along with her peers in the group. who were selling cupcakes with the theme of fruits of jannah. She told Al-Hikmah that there were many individuals who came out to support them and the other campus organizations present during the event.

Nabiel Ashkar, an attendee of the event, said that “a halal food fest is a great idea for students since there are not many opportunities for halal food nearby.” Ashkar, who is a sophomore accounting major, said that this event helped “bring variety and inclusion on campus.”

The Halal Food Fest allowed students to learn about different cultures and indulge in halal snacks and drinks right on campus. This event created a space for Muslim individuals to try out new traditional dishes while upholding their values and beliefs

Maida Nazir, a freshman majoring in Public Health Science, said that she “really liked the halal food fest since I am Pakistani and liked the mango lassi the PSA table had to offer.” 

Students said they enjoyed seeing their cultures and backgrounds being represented on campus and being able to share a space with fellow students with common backgrounds as them.

_{Image credits: Cover photo by Amna Tariq for Al-Hikmah.}