Zohran Mamdani, 34, took the oath of office on 1 January to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor in a ceremony that blended formal civic ritual with a colourful musical programme. The inauguration, held at City Hall, ended on a high note when Toronto-based artist Babbulicious performed a Punjabi track that drew cheers and dancing from the crowd.
Zohran Mamdani inauguration highlights
The event’s entertainment lineup spanned genres and generations. DJ MOMA provided the opening welcome music. Grammy-nominated singer Lucy Dacus performed the labour anthem “Bread and Roses,” and actor Mandy Patinkin joined the PS22 Chorus of Staten Island for a moving rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The evening closed with Babbulicious taking the stage to perform “Gaddi Red Challenger,” a song that brought Punjabi beats to City Hall and prompted visible celebration as the mayor and his wife, Rama Duwaji, danced among hundreds of attendees.
Video clips from the performance spread quickly online, amplifying the moment far beyond the inauguration itself. The singer later posted a photograph with Mayor Mamdani on Instagram, captioned in Punjabi with a line from his song meaning “the guy lives in New York,” and thanked the mayor for inviting him to perform.
Not all reaction was celebratory. Some social media users criticised the inclusion of a non-English song at a major civic event; one Republican commentator suggested the choice would provoke backlash. Supporters were quick to defend the cultural inclusion, pointing out that the mayor’s engagement with New York’s diverse communities was part of his campaign approach and public persona.
Mamdani’s personal background has been a notable element of his political identity. Born to an Indian filmmaker mother, Mira Nair, and Mahmood Mamdani, who is of Ugandan-Indian origin, he has frequently acknowledged his South Asian roots. During the mayoral campaign he addressed the desi community directly in Hindi-language videos and used familiar cultural references, even playing popular South Asian tracks during victory events.
The Punjabi performance at the inauguration will likely be remembered as a symbolic gesture of the city’s multiculturalism. For supporters it signalled an inclusive approach to civic celebration, reflecting New York’s long history as a place where diasporic communities see elements of their culture represented in public life. Critics, meanwhile, framed the episode as part of a wider debate about cultural priorities in public ceremonies.
As Mamdani begins his term, the inauguration’s musical choices underline the ways cultural expression and politics can intersect in modern urban governance. The ceremony combined traditional civic elements with popular and regional music, drawing attention to the mayor’s efforts to engage a broad constituency in one of the world’s most diverse cities.
Key Takeaways:
- Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, marking a historic civic milestone.
- The inauguration programme featured diverse performances, closing with Toronto artist Babbulicious performing Punjabi music.
- Clips of the performance went viral and sparked mixed reactions on social media, reflecting debates over cultural representation.
- Mamdani’s Indian heritage and outreach to the desi community were highlighted during the campaign and inauguration.
