Sunita Williams’ ancestral village in Gujarat over the moon as she returns to Earth

As soon as a SpaceX capsule carrying Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore splashed down near the Florida coast in the US, the villagers erupted in joy, bursting firecrackers, dancing and chanting “Har Har Mahadev” on a temple premises

Mehsana: A large crowd, including students, gathered at a government school in NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ ancestral village Jhulasan in Gujarat’s Mehsana district on Wednesday morning to begin a procession celebrating her safe return to Earth.

As soon as a SpaceX capsule carrying Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore splashed down near the Florida coast in the US, the villagers erupted in joy, bursting firecrackers, dancing and chanting “Har Har Mahadev” on a temple premises. The villagers had organised a ‘yagna’ praying for Willaims’ safe return.

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Around 9.30 am, students gathered at the government school to celebrate the occasion. They performed ‘garba’, a traditional Gujarati folk dance, and lined up for a procession to the temple of goddess Dola Mata. They said the goddess heard their prayers and brought Williams home. The procession will be taken out to thank her for her blessings, they said. A large number of villagers also joined the students.

“When Sunita Willaims left for ISS (International Space Station) on June 5 last year and her mission was delayed, we lit 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,” said a teacher from the school.

“Now that the goddess has protected her and ensured her safe return, we will take out another procession today to the Dola Mata temple with music and colour to celebrate the occasion and to thank her for her blessings,” he said.

All eyes were on Williams’ safe return as the residents of Jhulasan gathered at the village temple to view the event live on a television screen. As soon as she landed, residents celebrated the moment by bursting firecrackers, dancing and chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’. Even as Williams was on her way back, the villagers performed a ‘yagna’ at the temple and offered prayers. They said they had been performing a ‘yagna’ and had kept the ‘Akhand Jyot’ burning on the premises for her safe return.

Jhulasan, known as the ancestral home of Williams’ father Deepak Pandya, was alive with excitement ever since the news of her proposed return, after a delayed stay at the ISS, trickled in.

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. He said the villagers are looking forward to inviting Williams to visit Jhulasan.

Williams has 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. Her father, originally from Jhulasan, migrated to the United States in 1957. Vishal Panchal, principal of the Jhulasan Primary School, said elaborate arrangements have been made for Wednesday’s celebrations. 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.