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.”

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

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