As New York City’s mayoral race heats up, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani visited two prominent temples in Flushing on Monday.
Speaking to supporters, Mamdani said, “I am proud that I would be the first Indian-American mayor of this city.”
He went on to express how his mother’s family’s Hindu faith has shaped his own values, particularly through Hindu traditions like Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, and Holi.
Mamdani also revealed that his name, Zohran, was inspired by his mother Mira Nair, who told him it means “the first star in the sky.”
At the Ganesh Temple in Flushing today (where Cuomo hosted an event before the Primary) @ZohranKMamdani answered questions about hate speech from Kajal Hindusthani at a Gujarati Samaj event in July (which Eric Adams was supposed to attend but was forced to decline after protests) pic.twitter.com/Vz63iMiQ1L
— Yashica Dutt (@YashicaDutt) October 6, 2025
Mamdani reflects on growing up with Hindu culture
He reflected, “I grew up with a keen understanding of what Hinduism means, and those traditions and values, whether it’s Raksha Bandhan or Diwali, have taught me so much about the values I hold dear today.”
Mamdani also acknowledged the role of his family and their shared traditions in fostering a strong sense of pride in his Indian-American identity.
Mamdani’s candidacy gained momentum with endorsements from top Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris.
The exit of current Mayor Eric Adams from the race has also tilted the mayoral contest in Mamdani’s favour.
Alongside former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani is now considered a frontrunner, with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa still vying for the position.
Controversial past
Earlier this year, Zohran Mamdani found himself at the center of controversy after an old video surfaced showing him leading a protest against India’s ruling BJP government.
The protest, held in New York, was in response to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India and the subsequent rise of Hindu nationalism.
Mamdani, in a social media post marking the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, condemned the BJP and referred to the destruction of the mosque as an “atrocity.”
As tensions surrounding his past views resurface, Mamdani has continued to defend his stance against rising nationalism and fascism.