With just a month to go before New York City’s pivotal mayoral election, the campaign trail has taken on a distinctly personal tone for Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani. On October 5 and 6, 2025, Mamdani visited the two oldest and most prominent Hindu temples in Flushing, Queens, reaching out to the city’s Indian-American community and reflecting openly on his unique cultural and religious heritage. According to The Hindu and Scroll, these visits were more than mere campaign stops—they were an opportunity for Mamdani to share what he called the “values and ideals” that shaped his candidacy and personal identity.
Standing before crowds of worshippers and supporters, Mamdani declared, “I am proud that I would be the first Indian-American mayor of this city.” He went on to explain that, although he is a practicing Muslim, his mother’s family is Hindu, and he grew up immersed in Hindu traditions. “I grew up with a keen understanding, whilst myself being a Muslim, what Hinduism means. The stories that I learned, the tradition, the faith, the practices, whether it’s Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, Holi...it’s one thing that taught me many of the values that I hold so dear today,” Mamdani said, as reported by Scroll.
Mamdani’s mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, was also at the heart of his reflections. He shared with the audience, “My mother told me I was named Zohran because it means the first star in the sky.” These personal details were not just sentimental; they served to underscore Mamdani’s deep ties to the city’s diverse communities. “For Gujaratis, Punjabis, for Indians across the city and the world, I would not be here, were it not the family that raised me and the family that taught me the values, the ideals I hold. Those are values and ideals that make me proud to be an Indian-American,” he added, according to The Hindu.
The symbolism of Mamdani’s temple visits was not lost on those in attendance. He praised the temples as bastions of religious freedom, stating that they “safeguarded the freedom of religion not only for the Hindus of New York but all New Yorkers.” This message resonated in a city known for its vibrant tapestry of faiths and cultures, especially at a time when issues of religious tolerance and identity politics are front and center in public discourse.
But the campaign has not been without controversy. Earlier in 2025, Mamdani came under scrutiny after a video resurfaced showing him leading a protest in New York City against India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The demonstration was held in response to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India and the subsequent rise of Hindu nationalism. In a social media post marking the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Mamdani condemned the BJP and described the destruction of the mosque as an “atrocity.” As reported by Scroll, Mamdani’s outspoken stance against what he called “rising nationalism and fascism” in India has drawn both criticism and support among New York’s South Asian communities.
During his visit to the Ganesh Temple—where former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also held an event before the primary—Mamdani addressed questions about hate speech that had surfaced at a Gujarati Samaj event in July. Notably, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams was supposed to attend that event but declined after protests erupted, according to Scroll. Mamdani’s willingness to engage with difficult questions and his forthrightness about his past activism has set him apart from his rivals, at least in the eyes of some voters.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically in Mamdani’s favor over the past few weeks. The exit of Eric Adams from the race, following a series of protests and mounting political pressure, has left Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo as the leading contenders. Top Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, have thrown their support behind Mamdani, further boosting his campaign’s momentum. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa remains in the contest, but political analysts widely see the race as a showdown between Mamdani and Cuomo.
Mamdani’s campaign has leaned heavily into his biography, portraying him as a bridge between communities and a symbol of New York’s multicultural identity. “Those traditions and values, whether it’s Raksha Bandhan or Diwali, have taught me so much about the values I hold dear today,” Mamdani reflected, according to Scroll. He has credited his family’s shared traditions with fostering his strong sense of Indian-American pride—a message that appears to be resonating with voters from across the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
The mayoral race itself is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched in recent memory. With the city still recovering from the social and economic upheavals of the early 2020s, issues such as public safety, affordable housing, and religious freedom have taken center stage. Mamdani’s campaign has sought to position him as a candidate who understands the challenges faced by immigrant and minority communities—an approach bolstered by his own life story.
Yet, the controversy over his past activism has not faded. Critics, particularly those aligned with pro-BJP or Hindu nationalist perspectives, have accused Mamdani of being anti-Hindu. Supporters counter that his criticism is directed not at Hinduism itself but at what he sees as the dangerous politicization of religion by nationalist movements. Mamdani has continued to defend his stance, arguing that standing up against “rising nationalism and fascism” is consistent with the values of service and justice he learned from both Hindu and Muslim traditions.
Political observers note that the endorsements from high-profile Democrats, especially Kamala Harris, signal the party establishment’s confidence in Mamdani’s appeal to the city’s increasingly diverse electorate. Meanwhile, Andrew Cuomo, a veteran of New York politics, has sought to position himself as a steady hand and experienced leader, while Curtis Sliwa has continued to court the city’s conservative base.
As the election draws near, all eyes are on Flushing, Queens—the symbolic heart of New York’s Indian-American community—where Mamdani’s campaign has found both its roots and its momentum. The outcome of the race could mark a historic first for the city: the election of an Indian-American, Muslim mayor who openly embraces both his Hindu and Muslim heritage. Whether this message of unity and pluralism will carry Mamdani to victory remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—the 2025 mayoral election is shaping up to be a defining moment for New York’s ever-evolving identity.
As the city counts down to Election Day, New Yorkers are left to decide which vision of their future they want to embrace, with Mamdani’s story serving as a powerful reminder of the city’s enduring capacity for reinvention and inclusion.
