Jhulasan, the ancestral village of American astronaut Sunita Williams in Gujarat, erupted in celebrations as she returned safely to Earth on Wednesday after nine months in space.
Her father Deepak Pandya, originally from Jhulasan, migrated to the United States in 1957.
Villagers gathered at a temple, performing pujas, ritual sacrifices and prayers, while watching the event live, reported ANI. They burst firecrackers upon her landing.
For months, the village maintained an Akhand Jyot (eternal flame), praying for her safe return. A grand procession was later held in her honour, from the village school to the temple, with students joining in.
