Kamala Harris’ ancestral village holds special prayers for her victory

THULASENDRAPURAM/MADURAI: Thulasendrapuram, a small village nestled amongst lush green fields near Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district, performed special pujas for US Democratic party presidential candidate Kamala Harris' victory at the ancestral Sri Dharma Sastha temple on November 5, as the US goes to poll that day. Meanwhile, a congregation performed a special puja in SS colony in Madurai beseeching her triumph on Monday.

A DMK councillor Arulmozhi and her spouse T Suthakar are orchestrating a special abishegam with sandalwood, turmeric, and other sacred items, alongside a special archanai to the presiding deity at the Dharmasashtha temple, the family deity of Kamala's ancestors on Friday.


"Our prayers accompany our daughter of the soil to emerge victorious in the election to become the president of the most influential country globally," Suthakar told TOI on Monday evening.

A Madurai-based spiritual organisation ‘Anushanathin Anugraham' helmed by founder Nellai Balu at SS colony organised a special prayer with priests chanting vedic mantras to the Kanchi Mahaperiyava, Lord Krishna, Lord Murugan, Valli, Deivanai, Lord Ramar and Goddess Kamatchi Amman and performing dhyanam for Kamala's victory as she confronts fierce competition from Donald Trump.

Thulasendrapuram is the ancestral village of Kamala's grandfather and former Indian diplomat P V Gopalan. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was Gopalan's daughter. Born in California to Donald Harris and Shyamala Gopalan, Kamala progressed through the political hierarchy. Kamala's aunt, Dr Sarala Gopalan, residing in Chennai, visits the village periodically to worship at the temple.

Thulasendrapuram previously garnered attention in August 2020 when Kamala Harris's nomination as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate alongside presidential candidate Joe Biden in 2020 US elections thrust the modest village into global prominence. Her subsequent victory prompted villagers to conduct elaborate celebrations, displaying flex boards, creating Rangoli before their residences, distributing prasadham in Sri Dharma Sastha temple in Nov 2020. Local and global media representatives converged upon the village for comprehensive coverage then.


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