Residents of the Indian village where U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ grandfather was born are getting ready to hold prayers for her on election day at a local Hindu temple.
Harris’ maternal grandfather, P.V. Gopalan, was born over a century ago in the peaceful village of Thulasendrapuram, located in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state.
“There will be a special prayer at the temple on Tuesday morning,” said G. Manikandan, a villager who owns a small shop near the temple. “If she wins, we will celebrate afterward.”
At the temple, Harris’ name is engraved on a stone listing public donations, alongside her grandfather’s. A large banner outside the temple wishes “the daughter of the land” good luck in the election.
Gopalan and his family moved to the coastal city of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, where he served as a high-ranking government official until he retired.
The village gained attention four years ago when residents prayed for Harris’ Democratic Party to win in 2020. They celebrated her inauguration as U.S. Vice President with fireworks and food distribution.
Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, were working hard to encourage supporters to vote in a closely contested election, meaning it could take several days to determine the winner.
