Annual International Food Festival & Mosque Open Day
Food Festivals
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah.
Greetings from Garden City Mosque, Toowoomba.
On behalf of the Islamic Society of Toowoomba, I am pleased to invite you and your family and friends to the 9th Annual Toowoomba Int’l food Festival and Mosque Open Day on Saturday 25 June 2022 from 10:30am -15:30pm. The formal session will be held from 11am-1pm.
The reconstruction of the burnt Masjid building is almost complete (pending car parking and driveways) and would be open for viewing on the day Inshaa Allah.
This event has now become a significant annual gathering of people from all walks of life in Toowoomba region and greater Brisbane.
It is partially funded by a Queensland Government Grant, and attended by hundreds of people from diverse background to enjoy to food and friendship with faith and fun.
Many local and intestate state dignitaries have participated/spoken in the event in the resent past with significant media coverage.
Please promote the event to your contacts and social media. The Face Book link for the event is https://www.facebook.com/events/1031351794178633?ref=newsfeed
Looking forward to welcoming you on the day.
Kind regards,
Shahjahan Kahn
Toowoomba's new Garden City Mosque at 217 West St, Harristown, Toowoomba Qld 4350, Australia
2021 Food fastivals
2020 Food fastivals
City Mosque food festival crowds educated and entertained at annual event
Crowds who attended the Toowoomba Mosque’s seventh International Food Festival and open day left the event not only entertained, but also educated about the Islamic community in Toowoomba.
USQ professor and Islamic Society president Dr Shahjahan Khan knows better than anyone that a community divided is a community in distress.
Dr Khan’s solutions to misunderstandings between community groups came down to just a few simple elements: food, friendship and faith.
The Toowoomba Mosque’s seventh annual International Food Festival drew crowds from across the town.
One special feature of the day was a 100 year old, handwritten copy of the Qu’ran, provided by George Helon.
Dr Khan said the annual celebration was an important way of breaking down barriers between community groups in Toowoomba.
“A lot of people do not know a lot about Islam,” he said.
“They might have a misunderstanding or questions, and we want to give them an opportunity to come here and meet us and talk to us and ask the questions so we can know each other.
“This is our seventh one here so we do it every year after the mosque was established, and we’ll continue to do that which is important.
“There are misgivings, misconceptions, and misunderstandings everywhere so the more we can work to remove all the fear of the unknown and move closer to each other, respect each other and know each other a bit more.”
Food stalls and activities for the children kept families busy, and presentations from community leaders and academics enlightened and educated attendees throughout the day.
Guests were also given an inside tour of the mosque and its rebuilding efforts after the fires in 2015.
Dr Khan said he was pleased with the way people responded to the open day, and hoped it had helped educate the people of Toowoomba about Islam and their practices.
“Toowoomba is a lucky city to be united and to live in peace and harmony,” he said.
“The mosque is contributing towards that.
“We are always open, participating and engaging with the community.
“This gives an opportunity for us to know each other and get out the fear of the unknown.
“We’re all human beings, we all react similarly to the bad things and good things.”