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photo-article-logo Thursday, 12 December 2024

In Kamala Harris' village in Tamil Nadu, people root for her to win US presidential election

Thulasendrapuram is the ancestral village of Kamala’s grandfather and former Indian diplomat P V Gopalan. Her mother Shyamala was Gopalan’s daughter. The village hogged the limelight in August 2020 when Kamala was nominated as the Democrat vice president candidate, and it later celebrated her victory the same year.

Our Web Desk Published 05.11.24, 12:52 PM
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Anushathin Anugraha Chairman Nellai Balu performs 'puja' for the victory of Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the US election, in Madurai. (PTI)
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An air of excitement and expectancy pervades the Thulasendrapuram village in the district hoping that Democrat Kamala Harris, current vice president, wins in the US presidential elections.

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Supporters of US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris who have come all the way from the USA react before participating in a special pooja in Harris' ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram, in Thiruvaarur district. (PTI)

The villagers have performed prayers at the Sri Dharma Sastha temple in her ancestral village expecting her to trounce former president and Republican Donald Trump, and emerge victorious as Americans vote today to elect their next president.

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Hindu priests perform rituals during special prayers for the victory of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. elections at Palvancha, Telangana. (PTI)

Thulasendrapuram is the ancestral village of Kamala’s grandfather and former Indian diplomat P V Gopalan. Her mother Shyamala was Gopalan’s daughter.

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Special prayers for Kamala Harris victory. (PTI)

The village hogged the limelight in August 2020 when Kamala was nominated as the Democrat vice president candidate, and it later celebrated her victory the same year.

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Supporters at ancestral village of Kamala Harris. (PTI)

“Our sincere prayers are for the victory of the daughter of the soil in the election and to become the president of the most influential country in the world,” says councillor Arulmozhi and her spouse T Sudhakar, who have organised a special abishekam of sandalwood and turmeric, besides a special 'archanai' to the presiding deity at the Sri Dharma Sastha temple, the family deity of Kamala’s ancestors.

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Women walk past a banner, asking people to join a special victory prayer for Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the US election, at her ancestral village of Thulesendrapuram in Mannargudi district. (PTI)

They have erected a massive banner carrying her picture, wishing her success in the election.

Similar prayers filled the air in Madurai where Anushanathin Anugraham, a spiritual organisation, held a special prayer on November 4.

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Names of people, who contributed for the construction of Shri Dharmasastha Temple, engraved on a wall of the temple where a special victory prayer was organised for Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the US election, in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu. (PTI)

If Kamala wins in the poll, then the village leaders in Painganadu in the district will offer 'annadhanam' (free food) to the poor.

“Her ancestors are from our village .. she is a woman fighting for the big post and we want her to win,” says Arulmozhi.

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Ancestral village of Kamala Harris in Tamil Nadu. (PTI)

Kamala’s maternal grandfather Gopalan was born in this village before moving to Chennai. He had contributed nearly Rs one lakh to the Sri Dharma Sastha temple.

A donation of Rs 5,000 was made to the temple towards its Kumbhabhishekam (consecration) in the name of Kamala Harris in 2014, indicating her connection to the temple, though no one from her family lives in the village today.

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Supporters of Kamala Harris who have come all the way from the USA participate in a special pooja in Harris' ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram, in Thiruvaarur district. (PTI)

Her donation prompted the temple authorities to inscribe her name on a stone tablet containing the list of donors to the shrine.

With inputs from PTI

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