Madurai, November 5, 2024: Hours before the crucial US Presidential elections, special prayers for Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris were held in her ancestral village, Thulasendrapuram, in Tamil Nadu. Organized by the Anukragni organization at the Shri Dharmasastha Temple, the prayers drew local supporters and community leaders who expressed hopes for Harris’s victory.
Ballu, founder of Anukragni, shared his optimism: “Kamala Harris will definitely win the elections. We have organized this special puja for her success, and if she wins, it will be a moment of joy for the entire state.”
Thulasendrapuram holds significant emotional value, as it is the birthplace of Harris’s maternal grandfather, PV Gopalan. The village has long followed her political career, celebrating milestones as she rose from California’s district attorney to the vice presidency. This year, Harris is aiming to make history as the first woman president of the United States, taking on Republican candidate Donald Trump, who seeks a return to the White House.
Born in California to Indian mother Shyamala Gopalan and Jamaican father Donald Harris, Kamala Harris has continually acknowledged her Indian heritage. With her mother’s influence, she has often embraced her multicultural background, attending Howard University and building a historic political career.
In addition to the prayers in Tamil Nadu, a Maha Yagnam ritual was conducted over 11 days in Telangana by the Shyamala Gopalan Educational Foundation, hoping to bring divine support to Harris’s candidacy. Foundation founder Nalla Suresh Reddy stated, “We are hopeful that Kamala Harris will fulfill this historic opportunity.”
The US elections are set to take place on Tuesday (local time), and polls suggest a tightly contested race. A victory for Harris would not only make her the first female president but also set a new milestone for representation as a Black and Asian American leader in the United States.
