Sunita Williams' ancestral village awaits her return with prayers

As astronaut Sunita Williams prepares to return from space, her ancestral village Jhulasan, Gujarat, is filled with prayers and celebrations.

Transcript

00:00Jhulasan in Gujarat, Sunita William's hometown, is praying for her return from space.

00:17Her ancestral roots trace back to this village where her father was a doctor before she moved

00:21to the United States.

00:24For months, they have prayed non-stop for her safe return.

00:27An eternal flame has been burning here.

00:40The village is ready for a grand victory procession the moment she touches down.

00:55Sunita William's posters line the walls of the village school, inspiring kids to dream

00:59big and reach for the stars.

01:01The children, in awe of this spacewalks, have expressed their desire to celebrate her successful

01:05return.

01:26I stayed with her for three days.

01:28She used to hold my hand again and again.

01:33Then I asked her,

01:36why does she hold my hand so much?

01:39Sunita said,

01:41this hand is like my daddy.

01:44When I look at it,

01:46I think of my daddy.

01:48When she said this,

01:50I lost all my senses.