Zohran Mamdani Makes History: NYC's First South Asian Mayor Goes Viral with Rajnigandha Moment

A video featuring Zohran Mamdani enjoying Rajnigandha mouth freshener has gone viral across social media platforms.

New York City's newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, sparked widespread social media attention when a brief clip showed him casually consuming Rajnigandha mouth freshener during a spontaneous street conversation with content creator Nicolas Nuvan.

The Instagram video, shared by both Mamdani and Nuvan, begins with the mayor exiting a black SUV before pausing for a conversation in Brooklyn. When asked about his meals for the day, Mamdani responded, "I did eat today, chicken shawarma."

Shortly after, he retrieved a package of Rajnigandha Silver Pearls—cardamom seeds infused with saffron and covered in silver—from his pocket and mentioned, "I've also started having a lot of these. It's like a mint."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nicolas Nuvan (@nicolasnuvan)

Upon offering some to Nuvan, the content creator immediately reacted with enthusiasm: "Oh wow, that's delicious... it feels like I'm consuming perfume. It tastes good, I like it." Mamdani responded with laughter, saying, "Perfumes you can eat."

This casual exchange resonated deeply with South Asian communities online. One user commented, "No way he just ate Rajnigandha (South Asians will relate)," while another referenced a popular slogan: "Muh mai Rajnigandha kadmo mai duniya, like bhai made it happen literally." A third user expressed surprise: "Omg never in my life I thought Rajnigandha will make it to New York."

Following this viral moment, Mamdani continued his campaign activities throughout Brooklyn, engaging with local residents about small business challenges and community issues.

At 34 years old, Mamdani has made history as New York City's youngest mayor in a century, while also being the first Muslim and South Asian to occupy the city's highest office. His authentic expression of identity has established him as a significant figure in American politics.

"I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim, I am a democratic socialist, and most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this," Mamdani declared to supporters during his victory speech at a Brooklyn music venue.

For many analysts, his rise indicates a meaningful shift in South Asian representation in US politics. Sara Sadhwani, a political scientist at Pomona College who studies South Asian Americans, noted that Mamdani's openness about his background "certainly is a break from what we have seen in the past."

"But that very much goes along with Mamdani's brand of authenticity and embracing difference – fully accepting the nuance of those differences," she added. "Even if all Indian Americans don't completely embrace his politics, it is nonetheless a symbolic moment of acceptance of Indian Americans."