(Photo : Instagram)

• Thulasendrapuram, Kamala Harris' ancestral village in India, is praying for her U.S. election victory.
• The village celebrated her Vice Presidency four years ago and hopes for another celebration.
• The U.S. election has garnered significant attention in India, particularly in Harris' ancestral village.
• The election outcome will have implications for India-U.S. ties and the world at large.

In the small village of Thulasendrapuram, in southern India, residents are preparing for a special day. More than 8,000 miles from Washington, the villagers are planning to hold prayers for the victory of Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election. This village is the ancestral home of Harris' maternal grandfather, P.V. Gopalan. Born over a century ago, Gopalan and his family later migrated to the coastal city of Chennai, where he served as a high-ranking government official until his retirement.

The village has been in the global spotlight since Harris' inauguration as U.S. Vice President four years ago. The residents celebrated her victory with firecrackers and food distribution. Now, they are hoping for another celebration as Harris competes against her Republican rival, Donald Trump, in a historically close contest.

The village's connection to Harris is evident in the local temple, where her name, along with her grandfather's, is engraved on a stone listing public donations. A large banner outside the temple wishes the daughter of the land success in the election.

Prayers and Celebrations for Harris' Victory

The villagers are planning a special prayer on election day, followed by celebrations if she wins. The U.S. election has garnered significant attention in India, particularly in Harris' ancestral village. The temple ceremony in Thulasendrapuram was attended by more than a dozen villagers and a few tourists. After lighting incense, the priest ended the prayer with the pronouncement, Kamala Harris should win.

The village's connection to Harris extends beyond the temple. Arulmozhi Sudhakar, a local politician, erected a banner wishing Harris success in the election. She is one of us. She will win, said Sudhakar, a representative of a local village body. Once she wins, we will offer special prayers and also donate food at the temple.

The U.S. election is not just a topic of interest in Thulasendrapuram. The control of the U.S. Congress is also at stake, with the possibility of both the House of Representatives and the Senate flipping. Nonpartisan analysts suggest that Republicans have a good chance of taking back the Senate, but they could also lose their grip on the House.

Challenges and Implications of the U.S. Election

The election has also been marred by allegations of fake voter fraud videos and attempts by foreign adversaries to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Despite these challenges, the election has seen a record-breaking number of early voters, with over 78 million people casting their ballots ahead of election day.

The election will also determine the future of India-U.S. ties. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed confidence that the relationship between the two countries will continue to grow, regardless of the election outcome.

Inflation is another significant factor in the election. Soaring prices during the early months of President Joe Biden's administration turned many voters against Bidenomics. Despite the inflation rates approaching normalcy and robust economic growth, many Americans feel the cost of living has risen sharply compared to a few years ago, making the American Dream feel increasingly unattainable.

As the election day approaches, both Harris and Trump are making their final pitches to voters. They are flooding social media sites and TV and radio stations with a last round of ad campaigns, and racing to knock on doors and make calls. The outcome of this historic election will likely be determined by a small slice of voters, and it could take days for the winner to emerge.