Mamdani wears Arsenal kurta, Catholic Congresswoman a hijab for NY Eid prayers
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended Eid al-Adha prayers wearing an Arsenal-themed kurta. Alongside was Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who appeared in a black hijab. While Mamdani's Eid fit went viral, Ocasio-Cortez donning the hijab drew backlash for what critics said was the Catholic leader's hypocrisy.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani turned heads at Eid al-Adha prayers in the Bronx on Wednesday, not just for attending the celebrations but for what he wore. Mamdani appeared in a custom Arsenal-themed kurta carrying the football club's "Emirates Fly Better" branding.
Alongside him was Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Catholic, who wore a black headscarf or hijab during the event. The visuals went viral online, triggering a backlash among conservatives.
Some people accused the Catholic Congresswoman of hypocrisy and pandering.
The Bronx, one of New York City's five boroughs, is home to a Bangladeshi Muslim community centred around "Little Bangladesh", where Bangla-speaking families, mosques and halal businesses have become a visible part of the borough's cultural life.
MAMDANI'S ARSENAL KURTA GOES VIRAL
Mamdani's outfit stood out instantly. Mamdani wore what several reports described as a modified Arsenal away kit transformed into a kurta. Some reports even called it a thobe-like garment. It carried Arsenal colours, red-striped sleeves and the club sponsor's branding.
Abu Dhabi-based news outlet, The National, noted that the garment sat somewhere between cultures. Some identified it as a Gulf-style thobe or kandura. Others saw it as distinctly South Asian because of its structured collar, embroidery, trousers and side slits associated with kurtas, noted the report.
A thobe, also called a kandura in Gulf countries such as the UAE and Oman, is a long ankle-length robe traditionally worn by men across the Arab world, particularly in the Middle East.
"Today, as we honour Prophet Ibrahim, Eid al-Adha reminds us that sacrifice is not a burden. It is an opportunity to see ourselves as part of something larger. To extend a hand to those who need it most," Mamdani wrote on Instagram.
"I am honoured to be New York City's first Muslim Mayor, and I am determined to lead through solidarity. Together, we are working to ensure every New Yorker can afford the groceries, housing, and child care they need," he added.
Mamdani's post on Instagram has amassed over 1.2 million likes. "Mayor, this is one of the most wild Eid fits I've ever seen," a person commented on Mamdani's post.
Mamdani's post on X went viral on X, clocking over 8.2 million views, 1 lakh 18 thousand likes and nearly 18,000 reposts within hours.
Born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin, Mamdani has often spoken about growing up with Arsenal fandom because of the club's historic African players.
CATHOLIC CONGRESSWOMAN AOC'S HIJAB MOMENT SPARKS BACKLASH
Alongside Mamdani, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) attended the Eid event. AOC, who is a Catholic, donned a black hijab with a dark suit. However, AOC's appearance in hijab sparked backlash among conservatives.
A video of AOC speaking at the Eid event while Mamdani stood behind her made rounds on social media. The clip has amassed hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of comments across social media platforms.
Conservative observers have slammed the Catholic congresswoman as hypocritical for donning the hijab.
"AOC wearing a hijab exposes the total moral bankruptcy of the radical left," a person wrote on X.
"This theatrical Marxist simpleton screams about patriarchy while cosplaying in a garment mandated by brutal theocracies. The Iranian morality police execute women over this exact covering. Yet this lobotomised progressive parasite treats their subjugation as a trendy accessory," added the person.
Another person on X said that AOC "betrayed every American woman".
"This is a disgusting display of an ideology that enslaves women. Shame on her!!" added the person.
Parts of the Bronx borough are part of AOC's congressional district, according to a report in the UK-based Daily Mail.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Catholic. In a 2018 piece for America Magazine, she reflected on faith, forgiveness and Catholic social teaching.
But beyond the outrage and applause online, the images of Mamdani and AOC, captured a part of New York politics and its immigrant neighbourhoods. A Muslim mayor in an Arsenal kurta and a Catholic congresswoman in a hijab turned an Eid gathering in the Bronx into an American culture war moment.