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Punjabi Anthem Rocks NYC Mayor's Inauguration
3 Jan
Summary
- Zohran Mamdani took oath as NYC mayor with a Punjabi anthem.
- Singer Babbu Singh performed a reimagined version of his song.
- The event caused online debate distinguishing Punjabi and Islamic cultures.
Zohran Mamdani officially took his oath as the new mayor of New York City on Thursday, marking a historic moment. The ceremony was further illuminated by a lively rendition of the Punjabi anthem, "New York vich munda rehnda, sohniye Punjabi aayeeaee," performed by Canada-based Sikh singer Babbu Singh, widely known as 'Babbulicious'.
The chosen track, originally titled "Gaddi Red Challenger," was re-engineered for the inauguration. International cities in the original lyrics were replaced with local New York neighborhoods, creating a special connection to the city. Mamdani's mother, the acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, of Punjabi origin, was visibly moved, clapping and lip-syncing to the song, underscoring the celebration of heritage.
While the performance garnered significant applause and ended with a memorable embrace between Mamdani and Singh, it also ignited a polarized discussion on social media platforms. Misidentifications of the cultural elements led to backlash, which in turn inadvertently amplified awareness and clarified distinctions between Punjabi and Islamic cultures, highlighting the Sikh community.
