THULASENDRAPURAM, India (AP) — The temple echoed with rhythmic Sanskrit and Tamil hymns, as a Hindu priest held a flame before the god. As this small village in southern India gathered to pray for Kamala Harris, a group of journalists jostled for space and camera angles.

There is little that sets the village of Thulasendrapuram apart from any other rural community in Tamil Nadu except its connection to a woman who could become the first American leader with South Asian roots.

As millions of Americans vote, Harris has people supporting her thousands of miles away, in a village surrounded by rice fields and coconut palms, where her mother’s family has ancestral ties. They talk about her at the local tea room. Banners and billboards bearing his face can be seen throughout the community.

“Our deity is a very powerful God. If we pray to him well, he will make her victorious,” said Mr. Natarajan, the temple priest who led the prayers before the image of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva.

Harris’ maternal grandfather was born in the village, about 350 kilometers (215 miles) from the southern coastal city of Chennai, more than 100 years ago. As an adult, he moved to Chennai, where he worked as a senior government official until his retirement.

Harris has never visited Thulasendrapuram and she has no relatives living in the village, but people here still revere the family that made her famous in the United States.

“The granddaughter of our village ancestors is running for president of the United States. His victory will be happy news for all of us,” Natarajan said.

The sudden fame of the village helped bring money to the village. Recently, construction of a water storage tank began with funds donated by a local bank. Village residents say he will have a plaque with Harris’ name on it.

Harris’ late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India. After moving to the United States to study, she married a Jamaican man and they named their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit word meaning “lotus flower.”

Aside from travels during her childhood, Harris has not visited India much – especially not since becoming vice president – ​​but she has often spoken fondly of her ties to the country of her late birth. mother. On Tuesday, she released a campaign video highlighting her mother, who arrived in the United States at 19 and became a cancer researcher.

Titled “Mother,” the video ends with a narrator saying, “This daughter of Shyamala, this daughter of American history, is ready to take us forward.” »

Harris has often spoken about how she was guided by the values ​​of her Indian-born grandfather and mother. She also spoke about her love for South Indian cuisine, particularly a type of steamed rice cake called idli.

Harris’ name is etched on a list of donors — his aunt Sarala Gopalan gave money to the temple in his name — along with that of his grandfather. Outside, a large banner wishes “the daughter of the country” electoral success.

On Tuesday, the village temple also received rare international visitors: two American tourists and a British one, all wearing black T-shirts reading “Kamala Freakin Harris.”

Manikandan Ganesan, a villager who runs a small shop near the temple, said Harris’ candidacy for president made the village famous. He hopes Harris will eventually visit them.

“Even if she mentioned that she would visit our village, it would make us very happy,” Ganesan said. “His victory itself will be a great source of happiness for us.”

Village residents also prayed for Harris’ victory in 2020 and set off firecrackers when she became the American vice president.

For the women of the village, the candidate’s journey is a source of inspiration.

Local politician Arulmozhi Sudhakar said Harris embodies an important step towards women’s empowerment in places like Thulasendrapuram, where a majority of women continue to face discrimination and gender inequality.

“From the time when women were not even allowed to step out of their homes, to today, a woman from our village is running in the US presidential election – that brings us happiness,” said Sudhakar. “Generations to come will see her as a model for success in life. »

Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press