Zohran Mamdani Grooves to Punjabi Song at Historic New York Oath Ceremony

• Zohran Mamdani's mayoral oath ceremony in a New York subway station turned into a cultural spectacle with him dancing to a Punjabi song.
• Toronto-based Punjabi singer Babbulicious performed his popular track Gaddi Red Challenger live, with Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji joining in.
• Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor, took his oath on the Quran, known for progressive politics and outreach to immigrant communities.
• He has strong South Asian roots: mother Mira Nair (Punjabi Hindu) and father Mahmood Mamdani (Ugandan of Indian Muslim descent).
• His campaign engaged the diaspora with a Bollywood-inspired Hindi video and playing Dhoom Machale at his victory speech.

Why It Matters: Zohran Mamdani's oath ceremony blended politics with vibrant South Asian culture, marking a historic moment.