Harris is about to make historical past as the primary girl, first girl of color and first particular person of South Asian descent to carry the US vice presidency.
A tiny, lush Indian village surrounded by rice paddy fields is beaming with pleasure, hours earlier than its descendant, Kamala Harris, takes her oath of workplace and turns into the vice chairman of the USA.
Harris is about to make historical past as the primary girl, first girl of color and first particular person of South Asian descent to carry the vice presidency.
In her maternal grandfather’s village of Thulasendrapuram, about 350km (215 miles) from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state in southern India, folks had been jubilant and gearing up for celebrations.
“We’re feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected because the vice chairman of America,” stated Anukampa Madhavasimhan, 52, a trainer.
Harris’ grandfather moved to Chennai many years in the past.
Harris’ late mom was additionally born in India, earlier than shifting to the US to check on the College of California. She married a Jamaican man and so they named their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit phrase for lotus flower.
Forward of the US elections in November, villagers in Thulasendrapuram had pulled collectively a ceremony on the primary Hindu temple to want Harris good luck.
After her win, they set off firecrackers and distributed sweets and flowers as a spiritual providing.
Posters of Harris from the November celebrations nonetheless adorn partitions within the village and plenty of hope she ascends to the presidency in 2024.
President-elect Joe Biden has skirted questions on whether or not he’ll search re-election or retire.
“For the subsequent 4 years, if she helps India, she would be the president,” stated G Manikandan, 40, who has adopted her politically and whose store proudly shows a wall calendar with photos of Biden and Harris.
Forward of the inauguration, particular prayers for her success are anticipated to be held on the native temple throughout which the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, one of many types of Hindu god Lord Shiva, shall be washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest.
“I want her effectively, success and I want after 4 years she [Kamala Harris] turns into the president of the US, that’s my want, honest want,” stated Sheshadri Venkatraman, the temple administrator.
On Tuesday, an organisation that promotes vegetarianism despatched meals packets for the village youngsters as presents to rejoice Harris’ success.