March 19, 2025
3 mins read

Sunita Williams’ Safe Return Sparks Grand Celebrations in Ancestral Village

Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth on Tuesday evening aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft….reports Asian Lite News

Sunita Williams’ safe return to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay in space has brought immense joy to her relatives and the villagers of Jhulasan, her ancestral village in Gujarat’s Mehsana. As news of her return spread, the village erupted in celebrations with firecrackers and dancing.

An Akhand Jyot (eternal lamp) that has been burning continuously for the past nine months in the local temple was lit up to pray for her safe return. Now that she is back on Earth, the family is set to immerse the lamp in a special ceremony.

Sunita’s cousin, Naveen Bhai Baboolal, expressed his emotions: “Sunita visited us in 2007 and it was a joyful occasion. She came to the local temple and participated in a wonderful program. Since then, we believed that there was divine power in our village, and it became clear that Sunita was destined for great things.”

“During her third space mission, she took the idols of both our village deities with her. The sweets we prepare here, including the ‘Sukhdi’ and ‘Ganapati’s Ladoo’, were sent with her to space,” he added.

Naveen further shared, “When Sunita left for space, we had no idea she would remain there for nine months instead of a few days, due to technical difficulties. We were deeply worried, but we believed that our divine deities would protect her. That’s why we kept the Akhand Jyoti burning in the temple, praying for her safe return. And today, she’s finally back, so we’re celebrating her safe return with a village procession.”

He informed that villagers have planned a celebratory procession in her honour, accompanied with fireworks to create an atmosphere like Diwali and Holi.

“A procession will be taken out from the village school to the temple where the ‘Akhand Jyot’ has been kept. The ‘Akhand Jyot’ will be immersed after the procession reaches the temple,” he said.

Another family member, Dinesh Pandit, said, “The Akhand Jyoti was lit specifically for Sunita, as she faced challenges with her spacecraft during her mission. When we heard about the problems with her aircraft, we feared that her chances of returning were slim. But we prayed to the goddesses, and we had full faith that they would bring her safely back. This is not the first time we’ve done this; we’ve kept this tradition whenever she’s gone on her space missions, and it has always worked out.”

Dinesh added, “We are all part of one big family, and Sunita is like a sister to us. Our bond with her is very special, and our prayers for her have always been strong.”

Meanwhile, Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth on Tuesday evening aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.

The spacecraft safely splashed down off the coast of Florida just minutes before 6 p.m. local time. The astronauts were greeted by recovery teams, and Williams emerged third from the capsule, smiling and waving after a safe return.

Previous Story

India, Norway Forge Bold Trade Pact

Next Story

Maternal Infections Disrupt Newborn Brain Development

Latest from -Top News

World Bank Warns of Growing Poverty in Pakistan

Instead of concentrating on rural development to reduce poverty, the Pakistan government has been focused more on increasing defence expenditure….reports Asian Lite News The World Bank has voiced deep concern over Pakistan’s

Peace in Afghanistan Vital, Says India

The Indian delegation at the meeting was led by Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar who expressed support for independent, peaceful and stable Afghanistan….reports Asian Lite News On Tuesday, India reaffirmed that a

India, Qatar Strengthen Trade Ties

Goyal expressed optimism about the growing economic engagement between the two countries, stating, “Glad to meet Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed….reports Asian Lite News Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met

Keir Starmer Lands in Mumbai for First India Visit

The visit, described by No.10 Downing Street as a “two-day trade mission to Mumbai,” is focused on strengthening trade ties…reports Asian Lite News United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India Stresses Zero Tolerance for Terrorism Amid Hamas-Israel Conflict

Kamboj was speaking on Tuesday at a meeting of the

Goa Tourism concludes successful participation in ATM 2023

During the event, the delegation had a series of high-level