Sunita Willam’s Ancestral Village Jhulasan Becomes Emotional After Her Return, Know Talk Of The Town
Residents of NASA astronaut Sunita William’s ancestral village, Jhulasan in Gujarat, have celebrated her safe return by bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets, and dancing. Apart from celebrations, many people have also performed special rituals to the local deity.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also extended congratulations through X to our very own Sunita Williams and said people in India take immense pride in her connection to our land, celebrating her as a shining example of our shared heritage and aspirations. The villagers organised a yagna praying for Willaims’ safe return. They said their happiness knew no end and hoped to see Williams visit her ancestral village soon and inspire school students who are already filled with curiosity and follow in her footsteps.
Students of the local government school gathered to celebrate the occasion by performing Garba, a traditional Gujarati folk dance and took out a procession with Williams’ photo to the nearby temple of goddess Dola Mata. As the procession made its way from the school premises to the temple of goddess Dola Mata, the students danced and sang and distributed sweets on their way. School teachers and locals said the goddess heard their prayers and brought Williams home safely.
Locals had organised a ‘yagna’ praying for Willaims’ safe return. They said their happiness knew no end and hoped to see Williams visit her ancestral village soon and inspire school students who are already filled with curiosity and follow in her footsteps. School teachers and locals said the goddess heard their prayers and brought Williams home safely.
Principal of the primary school, Vishalbhai Panchal, said that the entire village is ecstatic and filled with pride upon Williams’ return. “The daughter of our village is the pride of the world. Willaims left for ISS on June 5 last year and her mission was delayed, the villagers came together to light up an ‘Akhand Jyot’ here on June 27 and took out a procession carrying the eternal flame to the temple of Dola Mata, praying for her safety, said a local resident.
Navin Pandya, her cousin, said that the villagers have been praying for her safety, taking care of the ‘Akhand Jyot’ that was lit up for her safe return soon after she went to space over nine months ago.
Williams visited India at least thrice, including in 2007 and 2013, soon after her space missions and has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2008. Education Minister Praful Pansheriya said people from all faiths prayed for Williams’ return and also remembered the late Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman and the second Indian person to fly in space. Williams’s father, originally from Jhulasan, migrated to the United States in 1957. Williams’ space mission was initially scheduled to last seven days but got extended due to a technical glitch. Her SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday early morning.