Kamala Harris’ Ancestral village in southern India holds special prayer ceremony for her success in US Election 2024
by Aditi VermaAs the final voting day approaches in the US presidential elections, the ancestral village of Vice President Kamala Harris in southern India’s Tamil Nadu, united in prayer for her success. The ceremony, held at the village temple, was attended by locals and supporters from the US, showcasing a deep-rooted connection to Harris’s family legacy.
The incident took place at Thulasendrapuram located in Tiruvarur district on November 5.
Visuals showed in Kamala Harris’s ancestral village, a special celebration was underway as villagers gathered in a local temple to pray for her victory. Vibrant posters of Kamala adorned the temple walls and nearby streets, showing her smiling face and symbols of goodwill. The air was filled with hope and excitement, as people gathered, some holding small flags and garlands. Inside the temple, the priest led prayers with incense and offerings, while outside, villagers chatted happily, expressing their pride in Kamala’s achievements. The scene was alive with a blend of traditional colors, spiritual ambiance, and community joy, all focused on wishing her success.
A special prayer ceremony was organized at the local temple, where a Hindu priest, M. Natarajan, led villagers in chanting Sanskrit and Tamil hymns before Lord Ayyanar, a revered local deity. According to Natarajan, “Our deity is a very powerful God. If we pray well to him, he will make her victorious.”
Thulasendrapuram, located around 350 kilometers from Chennai, is where Harris’s maternal grandfather was born over a century ago before moving to Chennai for his career as a high-ranking government official. While Harris has never visited the village herself, her family’s legacy remains highly esteemed here, and the community takes great pride in her achievements.
Among the attendees was Sherin Shivlinga from Las Vegas, Nevada, who had traveled to India specifically for this ceremony. “I have come to see the village where Kamala Harris’s grandparents were born and raised,” she shared. “We are waiting for the election results. We want her to win so badly.”
Although Kamala Harris has no remaining family in the village, her ties to Thulasendrapuram are evident in her frequent reflections on the influence of her Indian grandfather and mother, who imparted values she upholds today. The villagers feel a unique connection to her journey and hope their prayers aid her success in this pivotal election against Donald Trump.