Zohran Mamdani’s Arsenal-themed outfit at Eid al-Adha event in New York breaks the internet: ‘Fit goes crazy’ | Today’s news
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke the internet by donning an Arsenal-themed robe to join worshipers at an Eid al-Adha event in the Bronx on Wednesday (May 27).
Mamdani, a vocal supporter of the newly crowned English Premier League champions, wore the team’s knee-length blue 2025-26 road shirt, featuring the club crest and airline sponsor Emirates.
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Most people on the internet called Mamdani’s outfit a thobe, a traditional ankle-length, loose-fitting robe worn by men in the Arab world and adopted by Muslims around the world.
But for Indians, Mamdani’s garment was more of a kurta, which is a traditional loose-fitting tunic or shirt worn in South Asia that usually falls to the knees or below. Mamdani’s mother Mira Nair is an acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker.
Determined to lead through solidarity: Mamdani
Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York, attended an Eid event in the Bronx and was also seen offering Eid Namaz during the event. Mamdani, 34, the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century, was joined at the event by fellow Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The 36-year-old New York representative, who is Christian, wore a scarf to cover her hair.
In his message on X, Mamdani wished “Eid Mubarak” and linked the festival’s theme of sacrifice and charity with his political ideology.
“Eid al-Adha reminds us that sacrifice is not a burden,” Mamdani wrote on social media. “It’s an opportunity to see yourself as part of something bigger. To lend a hand to those who need it most.
“I am honored to be the first Muslim mayor of New York City and I am committed to leading through solidarity.”
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Mamdani’s outfit caused reactions on the Internet. “Arsenal’s thobe is a mad drop! Eid Mubarak Mr. Mayor,” the user wrote on Instrgram, generating more than 2,500 comments.
“Fit gone crazy,” another user wrote.
About Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal Football Club (Arsenal FC) is a leading English professional football club based in Islington, North London, which competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Arsenal, also known as “The Gunners”, is one of the most successful and widely supported clubs in the world.
In an interview with Vulture in 2025, Mamdani said he started watching Arsenal as a boy. “I came as a fan in the early 2000s and it was my uncle who brought me to the team,” he said.
Arsenal won the Premier League last week for the first time in 22 years this season and will face PSG in the UEFA Champions League final on May 30.
“I was born in Kampala, Uganda, East Africa and my father’s family is from East Africa and Arsenal were one of the first teams to have a number of African players: Lauren, Kolo Touré, Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Eboué, Alex Song. Over the years (then manager) Arsene Wenger changed the way English football looked,” he said.
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Mamdani was recently spotted alongside actors Spike Lee and Jason Sudeikis at a Brooklyn bar as the trio celebrated Arsenal’s long-awaited Premier League win.
Eid Al-Adha in the US and India
Eid al-Adha reminds us that sacrifice is not a burden. It’s an opportunity to see yourself as part of something bigger.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, is the second major Islamic holiday. The day honors the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God and coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The US celebrated Eid al Adha on May 27. In India, the festival is celebrated on May 28, except in Jammu and Kashmir, where it has been marked on May 27.