Why is a Small Village in Gujarat Praying for Sunita Williams' Return?

With prayers on their lips and hope in their hearts, residents of Jhulasan village in Gujarat are eagerly awaiting the safe return of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. The village, the ancestral home of Williams' father, Deepak Pandya, is abuzz with excitement as she prepares to return to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

A Village United in Prayer

For the past nine months, villagers have been offering prayers for Williams' well-being, keeping an Akhand Jyot—an eternal flame—burning continuously at the Dhola Mata temple for her safe return.

"The Akhand Jyot will remain lit until she reaches Earth safely," said Williams' cousin, Navin Pandya. He added that the village has been eagerly tracking her mission, and special prayers have been conducted in schools and temples.

Jhulasan primary and high school students have also been chanting Ram dhun (devotional prayers) for the last 15 days, said Vishal Panchal, principal of the village primary school. "Sunita Williams is the daughter of our village. She is a pride of our village, India, and the world," he said.

Diwali-Like Festivities Planned

The excitement in Jhulasan is reaching new heights, with preparations underway for grand celebrations once Williams lands safely. According to Navin Pandya, the villagers will take out a special procession in her honor, carrying her photograph from a school to the temple where the Akhand Jyot is kept.

"We will perform a dhun (prayer chanting) at the temple, followed by fireworks to create a festive atmosphere like Diwali and Holi," Pandya said.

Villager Vipul Sharma shared that extensive preparations are being made. "After she visits the village in the future, people here will take out a procession and organize a rally at the temple to welcome her," he said.

A Delayed but Historic Mission

Williams is returning to Earth along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore after a mission that was initially planned for just seven days but extended due to a technical glitch. The two astronauts are coming back aboard SpaceX, following a dramatic mission that began with a failed Boeing test flight.

Williams, who has completed 62 hours over nine spacewalks, holds the record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female astronaut.

Her father, Deepak Pandya, originally hailed from Jhulasan before moving to the United States in 1957. She last visited the village in 2013, and the residents are hoping she will return soon to celebrate with them.

"The atmosphere here is festive, with everyone eagerly anticipating her return. We will definitely invite her to visit Jhulasan in the future. It would be an honor to have her among us in her ancestral village," Navin Pandya said.

As Williams and Wilmore prepare for their journey back home, Jhulasan waits with bated breath, ready to celebrate the return of their very own star among the stars.