Sunita Williams' ancestral village in Gujarat offers prayers, plans 'Diwali like celebrations' to welcome her return to Earth

Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams' ancestral village in Gujarat's Mehsana district is preparing for "grand celebrations, resembling Diwali", on Wednesday morning as she is set to return to Earth after a nine-month stay at the International Space Station.
The villagers of Jhulasan, the ancestral home of Sunita Williams' father, Deepak Pandya, have been praying for her safety. Many have offered special prayers and lit an Akhand Jyot (eternal flame) at the local temple of Goddess Dola Mata.
Deepak Pandya, originally from Jhulasan, moved to the United States in 1957.
According to news agency PTI, Williams' cousin, Navin Pandya, said that a grand procession honouring Williams will be organised. The celebration will feature prayer chants and fireworks, creating festivities reminiscent of Diwali and Holi celebrations.
"The procession with her photo will be taken out from a school to the temple where the 'Akhand Jyot' is kept, with students joining others," Pandya said.
"We will perform a dhun (prayer chanting) at the temple. We had been offering prayers and lighting the Akhand Jyot for her safe return. This Jyot will be offered to Goddess Dola Mata on Wednesday after her return to Earth," Pandya added.
He said the villagers are eager to invite Williams to visit Jhulasan, with their excitement growing even more after news of her third space mission.
"The atmosphere here is festive, with everyone eagerly anticipating her return. We will definitely invite her to visit Jhulasan in the future. It would be an honour to have her among us in her ancestral village," he added.
Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore are concluding their extended stay at the ISS, spanning over nine months.
Their return journey via SpaceX follows an extended mission, initially planned for seven days but prolonged due to technical issues with a Boeing test flight.
Williams has established herself as a pioneering female astronaut, accumulating 62 hours across nine spacewalks, setting a record for women in space.