Rakshabandhan in NYC: Zohran Mamdani celebrates with South Asian seniors

Mamdani linked the spirit of Raksha Bandhan to his broader vision for New York City, calling on residents to extend the values of care and solidarity beyond the festival.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani marked Rakshabandhan by joining celebrations with South Asian seniors at India Home, a senior care home in the city. Extending his wishes to the community, Mamdani also shared wholesome images of the celebration on X, showing him interacting with women as they tied rakhis on his wrist.Mamdani used the festival to highlight its message of protection, support and solidarity, while drawing a broader connection between the traditional bond represented by the rakhi and his relationship with New Yorkers.“On Raksha Bandhan, a single thread symbolises a powerful promise: to protect, support, and stand by one another,” Mamdani said.Traditionally, Rakshabandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, with the sister tying a rakhi around her brother’s wrist as a symbol of affection and a promise of protection. Mamdani sought to extend that symbolism beyond the traditional relationship, presenting the thread as a reminder of the trust, responsibility and mutual support that can bind a community together.The mayor said he was glad to share the occasion with elders at India Home, which provides South Asian seniors with a space for community, care and companionship. He described the sense of belonging offered by the organisation as an example of the importance of building strong community ties.“Today I shared in the joy of this ceremony with elders at India Home, where South Asian seniors find community, care, and chosen family,” he wrote.Mamdani then linked the spirit of Rakshabandhan to his broader vision for New York City, calling on residents to extend the values of care and solidarity beyond the festival.“That spirit extends to our entire city. May we continue to stand by one another as we build a safer and more affordable city for all,” he said.His Rakshabandhan message comes as Mamdani continues to emphasise community, affordability and safety as key themes of his political agenda in New York. By sharing the festival with members of the city’s South Asian senior community, he also highlighted the cultural diversity and community networks that form part of New York’s social fabric.