NYC Mayor Mamdani's Inauguration Features Punjabi Music
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city's first Indian-origin mayor, concluded his inauguration ceremony on January 1. The event included a Punjabi music performance.
Performance Details
Toronto-based artist Babbulicious, also known as Babbu Singh, performed his track “Gaddi Red Challenger” as the formal ceremony concluded. Singh, wearing a fuchsia turban, led the audience in chanting the chorus, “New York vich munda rehnda, sohniye Punjabi aayi ae”. Mayor Mamdani, son of filmmaker Mira Nair, and his wife, artist Rama Duwaji, were observed dancing during the performance.
Social Media Reactions
The performance gained online attention after Babbulicious shared a photograph with Mayor Mamdani on X, accompanied by a lyric from the song. This event generated varied reactions across social media platforms.
Some users viewed the performance as a celebration of Mamdani’s South Asian heritage. Conversely, a video shared on X drew commentary that included Islamophobic remarks, with one user characterizing the event as an “Islamic takeover of America”. Republican politician Josh Barnett also commented on the post, questioning the acceptance of such an event by New Yorkers.
In response, supporters highlighted Sikh identity, Punjabi culture, and the multicultural character of New York City.
Previous Cultural References
This Punjabi performance is consistent with Mayor Mamdani's past use of cultural references in public appearances. He previously used the Bollywood song “Dhoom Machale” during his victory speech.