NEW DELHI : The people of Jhulasan, a small village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, erupted in joy on Wednesday (March 19, 2025) as NASA astronaut Sunita Williams safely returned to Earth after an extended space mission. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, landed in the Gulf of Mexico aboard a SpaceX capsule, marking the end of her nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS).
The village, which has deep ancestral ties to Williams, had been anxiously awaiting her return. Residents gathered at a local temple to witness the live broadcast of the landing, celebrating with fireworks, traditional dances, and chants of “Har Har Mahadev.” For over nine months, an Akhand Jyot (eternal flame) had been kept burning at the temple, accompanied by daily prayers and yagna ceremonies for her well-being.
Navin Pandya, Williams’ cousin, shared that the community is planning a grand procession in her honor. The event will include devotional songs, fireworks, and a parade featuring Williams’ photograph. The procession will conclude at the temple, where the sacred flame will be ceremonially extinguished to mark the successful completion of her mission. Pandya compared the scale of the festivities to major Indian festivals like Diwali and Holi.
Williams, whose father, Deepak Pandya, moved to the United States from Jhulasan in 1957, has visited India several times, including after her previous space missions. A recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2008, she continues to inspire many, holding the record for the most spacewalking hours (62) by a female astronaut
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Originally planned as a short mission, her stay in space was extended due to technical challenges, intensifying the concerns of her well-wishers in Jhulasan. Vishal Panchal, the head of the village’s primary school, emphasized the immense pride the community feels for Williams’ accomplishments. While celebrations are in full swing, villagers eagerly anticipate her next visit to her ancestral homeland.
