Mehsana, March 19 – The ancestral village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams in Gujarat’s Mehsana district erupted in celebrations on Wednesday following her safe return to Earth. As soon as the SpaceX spacecraft carrying Williams and Butch Wilmore landed off the coast of Florida, villagers in Jhoolasan rejoiced with fireworks, dancing, and chanting in temple courtyards.
The villagers, who had been praying for Williams’ safe return, had organized a special fire ritual, or yagna, ahead of her landing. Early in the morning, students from a local government school gathered at the school premises, performed the traditional Gujarati folk dance, Garba, and formed a procession leading to the temple of their revered goddess, Dola Mata. Many villagers joined the procession, expressing their gratitude for what they believed to be divine intervention in ensuring Williams’ safe return.
According to a local teacher, when Williams departed for the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5 last year, the villagers held a special prayer session on June 27, lighting an eternal flame in the temple and organizing a procession for her safety. Now, with her successful return, they once again marched to the temple in celebration, offering thanks through music and festivities.
Excitement had been building in Jhoolasan since news of Williams' impending return was announced. As per agency report, her close relative, Naveen Pandya, shared that the villagers had been eagerly awaiting her safe arrival and hoped to invite her to visit Jhoolasan once again. Williams has visited India at least three times, including trips in 2007 and 2013 following her space missions. She was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2008.
Williams' father, Deepak Pandya, originally hailed from Jhoolasan before migrating to the United States in 1957. The headmaster of Jhoolasan Primary School, Vishal Panchal, confirmed that extensive arrangements had been made for Wednesday’s celebrations in her honor.
Williams and her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, had embarked on their journey to the ISS on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. Initially, they were expected to return after a week, but technical challenges with the spacecraft led to multiple delays. NASA ultimately decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth without passengers, causing further postponements in the astronauts' return.
Throughout her career, Williams has set multiple records in space exploration. She has conducted nine spacewalks, totaling 62 hours, setting the record for the most spacewalks by a female astronaut. Her contributions to space exploration continue to inspire generations, particularly in her ancestral homeland, where her achievements are a source of immense pride.
