By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday hosted the first-ever Vaisakhi celebration at Gracie Mansion.
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is the most important day in the Sikh faith, marking the Sikh New Year and the beginning of the harvest season.
South Queens boasts one of the largest Sikh communities in the city.
Adams said the Sikh people of Gotham mean “a lot” to him.
“When you read your history, you have always been protectors. You’ve always been there and lived out your faith in a real way,” Hizzoner added. “I’ll never forget during COVID, many people were not aware how you fed hundreds of thousands of people in your temple. It didn’t matter what language they may have spoken. It didn’t matter where they came from. You opened your doors and you played a vital service for our city. And I personally thank you for that.”
Adams also called for a return to the city’s identity as the world’s most exceptional melting pot.
“[W]e must stop creating the environment that this city has one culture. It does not. It has many cultures. And we must embrace and appreciate each one of them because that is what makes us the greatest city on the globe. It’s not where we’re located. It is not out to our buildings. It’s all of the people that’s here, particularly our waiters. Thank you so much waiters,” Adams said. “And so it’s a privilege to be here today with our Sikh brothers and sisters at the first Vaisakhi celebration at Gracie Mansion—110 mayors and the number of times that we stated the first over and over again, we reached out and brought in people here to Gracie Mansion. You grace us with your presence. You allow us to lift up our city when we lift up your culture and what you stand for.”
Adams later lauded the community for its values.
“As we gather here today, it’s also time for us to celebrate the Sikh community in our city, the greatest city on the globe, your values, your values are the values of New York. You believe in family, you believe in faith, you believe in small businesses, you believe in law enforcement and safety. You believe in the things that we believe in as New Yorkers.
“And it’s only enough to continue the great deeds that you do from teaching in our public schools to healing patients in our hospitals to running your small businesses in all five boroughs. This community contributes so much to every facet of our city and every facet of our lives. And it is a community our administration has been fighting for since Day One.
“As we work to make New York City a safer, more affordable city, you have been a partner. And so as you wear your kara and turban with confidence to know– That’s right. With confidence, it is important for us to celebrate this important day with a great deal of pride.
“So once again, enjoy and happy Vaisakhi day in this community and celebration of a new dawn, a new spring, a new harvest, a new moment. Let’s produce fruits for everyone to be able to feed in this great city and in this great country,” the mayor concluded.
