In a show of cultural pride and transnational solidarity, residents of Palwancha village in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district have initiated an 11-day yagna (ritual) to pray for the success of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential elections. Kamala Harris, who has roots in India, is poised to make history as the first female president of the United States if she wins, building on her achievements as the first female, first Black, and first Asian-American vice president.
The ritual, called “Sri Sri Sri Raja Shyamala Devi Sahitha Shata Chandi Maha Sudarshana Yagna,” is being conducted by the Shyamala Gopalan Foundation, an organization named in honor of Kamala Harris’s late mother. Led by 40 Vedic pandits, the ceremony began eleven days ago and has gathered large crowds, with around 7,000 people expected to participate before it concludes. The Shata Chandi Maha Sudarshana Yagna, a traditional Hindu ritual, is intended to remove obstacles and bring prosperity and positive energy to its recipients. Nalla Suresh Reddy, founder of the Shyamala Gopalan Educational Foundation, expressed optimism about Kamala Harris’s chances, noting that the yagna has already had a positive effect on her support base.
Kamala Harris’s connection to India runs deep. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, before moving to the U.S., where she became a pioneering cancer researcher. Kamala Harris’s ancestral roots extend to her maternal grandfather’s birthplace in Thulasendrapuram, a village in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvarur district. There, locals have also offered special prayers for her success, and the Shri Dharmasastha temple in the village lists Kamala Harris’s name among its benefactors, reflecting the family’s longstanding ties to the region.
The yagna in Palwancha has attracted widespread attention and support among the village’s residents, many of whom feel a shared pride in Kamala Harris’s achievements and her Indian heritage. As the ritual entered its tenth day on November 5, hopes were high for Kamala Harris’s victory in the U.S. election. Reddy commented, “Whatever will happen, will happen by the grace of God. Today (November 5) is the 10th day of the yagna. We saw that due to the ritual, Kamala Harris’s support base increased. We want Kamala Harris to win.”
Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for president after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, citing health concerns, especially after a debate with former President Donald Trump in June that raised concerns about his age. If she wins, the 59-year-old Kamala Harris would make history as the first woman to lead the United States, marking a monumental milestone for women and people of South Asian descent. As she moves forward in her campaign, the yagna in Palwancha symbolizes the hope and unity felt by many Indians who see Kamala Harris’s rise as a moment of shared cultural triumph.
