New York City witnessed a historic political and cultural moment on January 1, 2026, as Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office to become the city's first Muslim mayor. The 34-year-old's swearing-in ceremony was notable not only for its political significance but also for its eclectic celebration, which culminated in a lively performance of a popular Punjabi track that set social media abuzz.
A Ceremony Blending Politics and Diverse Culture
The inauguration event at City Hall featured a wide-ranging musical program designed to reflect the city's diversity. The welcome music was set by DJ MOMA, followed by Grammy-winning artist Lucy Dacus performing the labour anthem Bread and Roses. Actor Mandy Patinkin later joined the PS22 Chorus of Staten Island for a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
However, the finale stole the show. Toronto-based Punjabi artist Babbulicious took the stage and performed his hit song, Gaddi Red Challenger. The energetic Punjabi beats prompted cheers from the crowd and saw the newly sworn-in Mayor Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, dancing joyfully alongside hundreds of attendees.
Viral Moments and Mixed Reactions
Clips from the Punjabi music performance quickly went viral online, amplifying the event's reach far beyond the physical venue. Babbulicious later shared a photo with the mayor on Instagram, captioning it with a lyric from his song: "NEW YORK VICH MUNDA RENDAAAAA" (meaning "the guy lives in New York"). He expressed his gratitude, writing, "Thank you Mr Mayor for having me perform at the inauguration."
The inclusion of the non-English song sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media. While many celebrated the cultural representation, some critics questioned the choice. Republican figure Josh Barnett reacted sharply, posting, "Are NYers really going to put up with this? I am guessing we will see major backlash soon."
Supporters were quick to defend the ceremony's diversity. One social media user countered, "Indians need to understand that the place needs a liberal leader to actually liberalise it... Even Indian-Americans voted him in."
Mamdani's Consistent Embrace of His Roots
The cultural moment was not an isolated incident but part of a consistent pattern for Mayor Mamdani. Born to an Indian mother and a Ugandan father of Indian origin, he has frequently highlighted his South Asian heritage. During his campaign, he reached out to the desi community by speaking Hindi in his campaign videos and even had the Bollywood track Dhoom Machale playing during his victory speech.
His historic swearing-in on January 1, 2026, therefore, marked both a political milestone for New York City and a vibrant, if debated, celebration of its multicultural fabric.
