Ram Mandir 'gives Hindus a reason to celebrate': New York Mayor Eric Adams

Hindus not only in India but also from South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities living in New York City “have a reason to celebrate and take their spirituality to the next level,” Mayor Eric Adams claimed on Saturday.

Mayor Adams attended a Mata Ki Chowki, a religious festival, at the Geeta Mandir in the city. Adams – joined by one of his key allies, Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs Dilip Chauhan – thanked and emphasized the “importance of true faith and the importance of worship.”

When asked about the opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and what it meant for the Hindus of New York City, Adams said the opening is “extremely important.”

“We have one of the largest Indian populations here in the city and (opening Ram Mandir) allows them to celebrate and uplift their spirituality to help us all in the healing process,” Mayor Adams told Hindu community members.

On Diwali, New York City's 110th mayor, Adams announced the Festival of Lights as a public school holiday in New York City. The announcement came after state lawmakers passed a bill first introduced in 2021 and reintroduced in 2022. Supporters, especially New York's Indian-American community, had been trying for more than two decades to change the date on the public calendar to get schools.

“I would like to add that Mayor Adams loves the Hindu community. He is the first in history to declare Diwali as a public holiday,” said Chauhan, who expressed his gratitude for the mayor's decision to declare Diwali a public holiday call.

The push for official recognition of Diwali comes as South Asians have grown in numbers and power both in New York and nationally. The population of New York City residents categorized as Asian Indian by the Census Bureau has more than doubled over the past three decades, from 94,000 in 1990 to about 213,000 in the 2021 American Community Survey.

Adams won the 2021 New York City mayoral race with promises to increase public safety and give a voice to working-class residents, drawing on his experience as a police captain and as a Black man who experienced police brutality as a youth.

In his remarks to the community, Adams was not shy in accepting the support of the Hindu community and said his triumph was a result of his faith, the faith of the Hindus and the blessing of temple priest Swami Satyanand of the Geeta Temple in New York. .

“I know prayer works, I know we show our faith and show that we can overcome all the obstacles and the challenges and difficulties that come with being mayor. It was thanks to my faith. It was thanks to you breath. It was because of your belief that I am here today.”

“When we wanted to become mayor, you blessed me and told me that I would become mayor of New York City, and as we see now, seven years later,” Adams told Swami Satyanand.

Adams also made a special mention of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita and the importance of their teachings as he thanked the South Asian community.

“And just say thank you and we will walk this journey together as we move forward. We live in the spirit and energy of Rama and Sita. The sacrifices, the commitment to devotion is what will carry us through these difficult moments.” Adams concluded.

First print: January 8, 2024 | 9:46 am IST