As Kamala Harris made history on Wednesday when she was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States of America, black and South Asian, a small Indian village celebrated her rise in politics with firecrackers and prayers.
Harris, 56, is a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants.
Her maternal grandfather was born in the village of Thulasendrapuram, about 215 miles from Chennai, in Tamil Nadu state, southern India, over 100 years ago, the Associated Press reported.
Groups of women dressed in shiny sarees and men in white dhoti pants – a type of sarong worn by men in India – watched Harris’ inauguration live in Thulasendrapuram, according to the AP. Villagers chanted “Long live Kamala Harris” while holding portraits of her and threw fireworks as she took the oath, the AP reported.
Harris’ late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was also born in India before moving to the United States to study, where she obtained a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology from the University of California at Berkeley, and met the father of Harris, Donald Harris. . On numerous occasions, Harris has credited his mother with being a “force of nature and the greatest inspiration in my life.”
As a Howard University alumnus and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Harris is also the first vice president to graduate from a historically black college and to belong to a historically black Greek literary organization.
It takes a village to celebrate Kamala Harris
People holding placards with the photo of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris celebrate her inauguration day in the village of Thulasendrapuram, where Harris’ maternal grandfather was born and raised, in the state of Tamil Nadu, in South India, India on January 20, 2021.
Distribute candy
Villagers holding photos of U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hand out candy to celebrate Harris’ ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram, Tamil Nadu state, southern India, Jan.20, 2021.
Prepare the fireworks
A villager holding a photo of U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris prepares to light firecrackers to celebrate at Harris’s ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state on January 20, 2021 .
People light firecrackers to celebrate the inauguration
People holding placards with the photo of US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in light firecrackers as they celebrate his inauguration day in the village of Thulasendrapuram, where Harris’ maternal grandfather was born and raised, in Tamil Nadu state, southern India, India, January 20, 2021.
Make traditional snacks
A woman prepares a traditional snack to celebrate the inauguration of U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at Harris’ ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state on Jan.20, 2021.
Boy watches Kamala Harris inaugural ceremony
A boy holds photos of U.S. Democratic Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as he attends a rally to watch Kamala Harris’ inaugural ceremony at his ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in southern Tamil Nadu state India, January 20, 2021.
Villagers offer prayers at a Hindu temple
Villagers offer prayers at a Hindu temple for U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state on January 20, 2021.
Celebrations begin after her swearing-in as Vice President of the United States
People hold posters of Kamala Harris to celebrate after she was sworn in as Vice President of the United States during Joe Biden’s inauguration as 46th President of the United States, in the village of Thulasendrapuram , where Harris’ maternal grandfather was born and raised, in Tamil Nadu state, India, January 20, 2021.
