New Delhi, Jan. 1 -- When Zohran Mamdani takes the oath of office on January 1, he will not only usher in a new mayoralty but also a series of unprecedented firsts in New York City's civic history. A millennial, South Asian and Muslim leader, Mamdani will become the city's first Muslim mayor-and the first to swear his oath of office on the Quran.

The inauguration will unfold in two distinct ceremonies, blending symbolism, faith and the city's layered history. A private midnight swearing-in will take place in a disused subway station beneath City Hall, followed later in the day by a public ceremony on the steps of City Hall.

During both ceremonies, Zohran Mamdani will place his hand on the Quran, Islam's holiest text, making him the firs...