THULASENDRAPURAM, India (AP) — Rhythmic Sanskrit and Tamil chants echoed through the temple as a Hindu priest held a flame in front of the deity. As this small South Indian village gathered to pray for Kamala Harris, a throng of reporters jostled for space and camera angles.

Little distinguishes the village of Thulasendrapuram from other rural communities in Tamil Nadu other than its connection to a woman who may have been America’s first leader of South Asian descent.

While millions of Americans vote, Harris has people supporting her thousands of miles away in a village surrounded by rice fields and coconut trees. your mother’s family has ancestral ties. They’re talking about him at the local tea shop. Banners and billboards bearing his face can be seen all over society.

“Our God is a very powerful God. If we pray to him well, he will give him victory,” said temple priest M. Natarajan, praying in front of the statue of Hindu god Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva.

Harris’s 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 and worked as a senior government official until his retirement.

Harris has never visited Thulasendrapuram and has no relatives living in the village, but people here still respect the family that made him great in the United States.

“The grandson of our ancestors in the village is running as a US presidential candidate. His victory will be happy news for all of us,” said Natarajan.

The village’s sudden fame helped bring money to the village. Construction of a water storage tank recently began with funds donated by a local bank. Village residents say he will carry 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, which means “lotus flower” in Sanskrit.

Other than trips throughout her childhood, Harris hasn’t visited India much — especially since she became vice president — but she has often spoken emotionally about her late mother’s ties to the country of her birth. On Tuesday, he released a campaign video featuring his mother, a cancer researcher who came to the U.S. when she was 19.

Titled “Mother,” the video ends with a narrator saying: “This daughter of Shyamala, the daughter of the American story, ready to take us forward.”

Harris has often talked about how he was guided by the values ​​of his Indian-born grandfather and mother. He also talked about his love for South Indian food, especially a type of steamed rice cake called idli.

Harris’ name appears on the list of donors; her aunt Sarala Gopalan had donated money to the temple in her name along with her grandfather’s. With a large banner outside, he wishes the “daughter of the soil” success in the election.

On Tuesday, the village’s temple also welcomed rare international visitors: two American tourists and a British tourist, all wearing black T-shirts that read “Kamala Freakin Harris.”

Villager Manikandan Ganesan, who runs a small shop near the temple, said Harris’ presidential bid made the village famous. He hopes Harris will eventually visit them.

Ganesan said, “Even if he says he will visit our village, this would make us very happy.” “His victory will be a source of great happiness for us.”

Village residents also prayed for Harris’ victory in 2020 and set off fireworks when Harris died. US Vice President.

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

Local politician Arulmozhi Sudhakar said Harris has taken a significant step towards women empowerment in places like Thulasendrapuram, where the 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 a woman from our village participating in the US presidential elections, this brings us happiness,” Sudhakar said. “Future generations will look to him as a role model for success in life.”