Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez Wish Nepali Community a Happy Tihar
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani extends Tihar greetings to the Nepali community in a post on X, wishing Nepali New Yorkers prosperity, peace and a sense of belonging.
NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez extended Tihar greetings to the Nepali community in separate social media posts, highlighting the festival’s celebration of family bonds, prosperity and a sense of belonging.
Both began their messages on X with a greeting in Romanized Nepali: “Tihar ko hardik shubhakamana,” meaning “heartfelt wishes for Tihar.”
Mamdani addressed Nepali New Yorkers celebrating Laxmi Puja and Bhai Tika, tying the festivities to a broader message of inclusion.
“As thousands of Nepali New Yorkers light diyas for Laxmi Puja and celebrate the bonds of Bhai Tika, may this Tihar bring you prosperity, peace, and the sense of belonging you deserve,” he wrote.
Ocasio-Cortez addressed “our Nepali neighbors,” emphasizing the relationships celebrated during the festival.
“Tihar reminds us to honor every bond that sustains us, from the animals who share our lives to the siblings who protect us,” she wrote. “May it bring you happiness, prosperity, and peace.”
Tihar, Nepal’s five-day festival of lights, includes days dedicated to honoring crows, dogs, cows and oxen, as well as worshipping Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The festival culminates in Bhai Tika, when sisters apply tika to their brothers’ foreheads and offer blessings for their long lives and prosperity.