mayor of new york city Zoran Mamdani On Wednesday, he made rangoli with 2-K children to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi, while quietly promoting his upcoming child care program.The Indian-origin leader shared a video of the event on Instagram while wishing the Hindu community in New York a happy holiday.In the video, he can be seen standing in a circle with his children at a home school in South Richmond Hill, one of the first communities to receive 2,000 free seats this fall. He recalled celebrating the Festival of Colors as a child, adding that it was “the joy of embracing all colours”.“Wishing New York City’s Hindu community a more colorful Holi,” he wrote in the caption, adding that he was looking forward to warmer weather and universal child care. In the video, Mamdani can be seen smiling as a child cries in the background, before working with them to create a design that reads “2K.”“Sometimes we cry, and then we add a little color. And then a little more. And then comes joy,” reads overlay text in the video, with the Hindi song Holi Ayi Re playing in the background.Mamdani will take office in January 2026, becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York City. He was born in Kampala, Uganda, and was raised in New York by his father Mahmood Mamdani and mother Mira Nair from the age of seven.His father, a prominent Ugandan scholar, was a Muslim, while his mother, a prominent Indian film producer, was also a devout Hindu. Mamdani identifies as a Shia Muslim and also participates in Ramadan.In a conversation with India Eye, he shared his experience of growing up in an interfaith family and celebrating many Indian festivals.“I am a Shia Muslim but I grew up in an interfaith family. My mother’s family is Hindu and I grew up celebrating Diwali, Holi and Ramadan. Although I consider myself a Muslim, these Hindu traditions and customs have shaped my worldview,” he said.He also recently announced that some New York City families will receive free child care next year, with applications for the first 2,000 free 2-K seats opening in early summer.The 34-year-old said childcare was one of the main reasons families left economic centers. The mayor announced that currently, school districts 6, 10, 18, 23 and 27 have been included in the plan, and 12,000 free child care seats will be added next year.
