Zohran Mamdani visited several Hindu temples in NYC. / Biplob Kumar Das

New York City’s Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Oct.5 visited two Hindu temples in the city’s Flushing area, in a move to connect with his Hindu supporters in the middle of the festive season. 

Speaking to a crowd of priests and devotees at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Mamdani said that the temple visits were a way for him to connect with the Hindu heritage of his maternal family. His mother is renowned Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mira Nair. 

“My mother’s family taught me about Raksha Bandhan, taught me about Holi, taught me about Diwali,” said Mamdani. “To be here with you is so special to me because when I meet the members of this mandir, I hear the names of my own family,” he said as the audience of over a hundred people applauded. 

On Nov. 4, Mamdani, a state assembly member, will be on the ballot to be the city’s mayor against independent candidate and former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo as well as the Republican party candidate Curtis Sliwa. 

The current mayor of the city, Eric Adams, quit his re-eelction bid after election polls gave him little chances at winning. Mamdani has consistently polled well ahead of the other candidates since he grabbed the Democratic nomination in June. 

If elected, he will become the first south-Asian, Indian, and Muslim person to become the mayor of the city. 

ALSO READ: ‘He won’: Cuomo concedes to Mamdani in NYC Democratic mayoral primary

Mamdani was greeted by Hindu supporters at the Ganesh temple. / Biplob Kumar Das

After his speech at the BAPS temple, Mamdani also visited a Ganesh Temple in Flushing, Queens, where he paid his prayers and spoke to priests and devotees. 

“To be here and to meet with so many in the Hindu community who have been showcasing what seva looks like for so many decades oftentimes without recognition - I am proud I would be the first Indian American mayor of this city, and I am proud that my mother’s family is Hindu,” Mamdani said while speaking to reporters. 

His visit to the Ganesh temple was organized by Hindus4Zohran, an affinity group that campaigns for his mayoral bid and spreads his message among Hindu voters.

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Sagar Chadha, a member of Hindus4Zohran, said Mamdani’s temple visit reflected the Indian-Ugandan candidate’s strong standing among Hindu voters. “Many many Hindus support Zohran, and we are focussed on the protection and the advancement of the Hindu community,” he said. 

Chadha also pointed towards the symbolic value of Mamdani being present in a Hindu temple where Hindus of multiple ethnicities including Tamils, Gujaratis, and Punjabis, come for their prayers. 

“I am proud of my Hindu heritage, I am proud to be someone who would be the first Musilm mayor of this city. And I am proud to hold all of those things together as we deliver this vision,” Mamdani said. 

People around the temple stopped by to get a glimpse of the mayoral candidate and some walked up for selfies. Dhanvantari, a 20-year-old son of Russian immigrants who converted to Hinduism, got a brief glimpse of Mamdani. 

“I think it’s great he’s visiting temples, it will energize Hindus to vote for him,” Dhanvantari said. 

Meanwhile, Mamdani, who is a Democratic Socialist reiterated his core election agenda of making housing affordable for New Yorkers.  

“I am proud to be running to be a mayor who will ensure that Hindu children in this city can celebrate Diwali and when they go home to their families, their families do not have to worry about whether they can afford to live in that same home next day,” he said. 

Outside the Ganesh Temple, Deepak Mehta, a 70-year-old who frequents the temple, said he was excited for Mamdani to become the mayor due to his promise to freeze the rent. 

“I live in a rent-stabilized apartment. But my landlord still behaves as per his wish causing a lot of issues. I will vote for Mamdani because his policies will stop my landlord from causing problems for me,” he said. 

Mamdani’s visits to the temples also comes at a time when South Asians have become a key demographic in the election. With more than 400,000 New Yorkers who come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Nepal, among other countries in the region, Mamdani’s multi-ethnic identity makes him well-placed with his South Asian constituents. 

“In 30 days we have the opportunity to elect myself as the first Indian American mayor in the history of this city. And what that means to me is an opportunity to show that everyone in this room is just as much New York,” Mamdani said during his speech at the BAPS temple.