'New York Vich Munda Renda': Zohran Mamdani’s oath ceremony turns festive with Punjabi performance | WATCH

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani waves next to his wife Rama Duwaji during his public inauguration ceremony followed by a block party at City Hall in New York on January 1, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's first Muslim mayor in a subway ceremony featuring Punjabi music and dancing, highlighting his multicultural outreach and focus on immigrant communities. The event quickly went viral, reflecting NYC's diversity.

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Zohran Mamdani’s swearing-in as New York City mayor turned into an unexpected cultural moment after videos from the ceremony showed him dancing to Punjabi music inside a subway station, quickly going viral on social media.

The oath ceremony, held at a New York subway location, concluded with a live performance by Toronto-based Punjabi singer Babbulicious, who performed his popular track Gaddi Red Challenger. Mamdani was seen singing and dancing along with his wife, Rama Duwaji, as hundreds of supporters joined the celebration.

Sharing photos from the event on X, formerly Twitter, Babbulicious wrote, “NEW YORK VICH MUNDA RENDA!!! Thank you Mr Mayor for having me perform at the inauguration."

GOOD LIFE SAADI MUTIYAARE 🤣🤣😘😘😘 https://t.co/7NvV2jLJpa

— Babbu Beard (@babbulicious) January 1, 2026

Mamdani took his oath on the Quran, becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor. His rise has drawn attention not only for its political significance but also for the way he has blended culture, identity and politics. A vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, Mamdani has positioned himself as a progressive leader with a strong focus on immigrant and minority communities.

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani made visible efforts to connect with New York’s diverse population, particularly the South Asian diaspora. He frequently highlighted his own multicultural background while engaging with voters through music, language and popular culture.

Mamdani is the son of internationally acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, a Punjabi Hindu from India, and political scholar Mahmood Mamdani, who is of Indian Muslim descent from Uganda. His family background has often been referenced as an influence on his inclusive political outlook.

During the election campaign, Mamdani released a Bollywood-style Hindi campaign video that drew wide attention online. He also played the song Dhoom Machale during his victory speech, reinforcing his outreach to younger voters and multicultural communities.

The subway ceremony and the Punjabi music performance have since been widely shared online, with supporters calling it a reflection of New York’s diversity. For Mamdani, the moment underscored how his mayoralty is likely to blend politics with culture, symbolism and a strong emphasis on representation.