The maternal village of Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris in India was bustling with activity on Sunday morning.
Thulasendrapuram is where Harris’s maternal grandfather was born. The village in Tamil Nadu state - population around 8,000, mainly farm labourers and landlords - has become a hotspot of celebration.
Villagers are bursting crackers, distributing sweets and offering prayers of thanks at a temple after learning about the victory of Harris and Joe Biden.
Women draw rangolis (colourful designs on the floor) in front of their homes. Young and old carry posters of Harris with pride and joy in their eyes. When bells rang in the temple for prayers, groups of women came with sweets on big plates and made offerings to the family deity of Harris's ancestors.
Over 120 villagers, even local politicians, cutting across party lines, gathered in the temple and took part in the event. They hope Harris will visit their village after she takes the new job. Some elderly women recall that Harris’s grandfather donated funds for the renovation of the temple.
Arul Mozhi Sudhakar, councillor for Thulasendrapuram, compares the participation of women in elections in India and America.
"India had women leaders like former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. But now a woman from Indian origin has created history in America. I am happy," she says.
"Though I am a woman politician in this tiny Indian village, I could understand the difficult terrain women had to sail over to anchor in politics.
"A new history for America was written by a woman whom we consider as daughter of our village.’"
While I write this, sitting in a photostat shop in the village, I learn that more than 10 new large posters of Harris have been ordered by local people to be placed in important corners of the village.
Latest Stories
-
Contributors own SSNIT, they must decide who becomes its Director-General – Austin Gamey
11 mins -
Move away from theory-based learning towards practical learning approaches – AUCC President to students
20 mins -
Haaland scores as Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest
1 hour -
Villas-Boas elected Porto president
2 hours -
Situation on frontline has worsened, Ukraine army chief says
2 hours -
US doctor describes witnessing starvation in northern Gaza
2 hours -
CAFCC: RS Berkane make final after USM Alger refused to play 2nd leg over Moroccans’ jersey
2 hours -
Elon Musk in China to discuss enabling full self driving
2 hours -
PSG clinch Ligue 1 title after Lyon’s win over Monaco
4 hours -
Guinness Ghana sets the pace at Ghana Beverage Awards with six awards
4 hours -
Burkina Faso suspends BBC, VOA radio broadcasts over killings coverage
5 hours -
Nicole Kidman honoured with AFI Life Achievement Award
5 hours -
Brassier scores winner for Brest as they edge Rennes to secure European football
5 hours -
Akufo-Addo jabs Ejisu independent candidate; rubbishes allegations to rig by-election
5 hours -
‘What are the real causes of the erratic power outages?’ GUTA asks ECG
5 hours