As the United States prepares for elections, a small South Indian village in Tamil Nadu, Thulasendrapuram, has come together to pray for Kamala Harris’ success against Donald Trump.

It’s not a village like any other, but one where his mother’s family has ancestral ties.

Thousands of kilometers away, in a village surrounded by rice fields and coconut trees, people support Kamala. His temple resonated Tuesday morning with rhythmic Sanskrit and Tamil hymns, as a Hindu priest held a flame before the god.

“Our deity is a very powerful God. If we pray to him well, he will make her victorious,” said M Natarajan, the temple priest who led the prayers before Lord Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva.

Kamala’s maternal grandfather was born in the village, about 350 kilometers (215 miles) from Chennai, more than 100 years ago. As an adult, he moved to Chennai, where he worked as a senior government official until his retirement.

She has never visited Thulasendrapuram and has no relatives living in the village, but people here still revere the family who made her famous in the United States.

Kamala has often spoken about how she is guided by the values ​​of her Indian-born grandfather and mother. She also spoke about her love for South Indian cuisine, especially idli.

American supporters of Kamala Harris also arrived in Thulasendrapuram to attend the special puja.

Sherin Shivlinga Las VegasNevada said: “I came to see the village where Kamala Harris’ grandparents were born and raised. We are waiting for the election results, we are nervous, we want her to win so much.”

Her American supporters donned similar shirts with the slogan “Kamala Freakin Harris” to cheer on their favorite candidate.

Earlier, an 11-day Maha Yagnam was organized in Telangana for Kamala Harris’ victory in the US presidential elections.

Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, first black and first Asian American vice president. If elected president, Harris, 60, would be the first woman to hold the office in U.S. history. She is also only the second woman to be nominated for president by a major political party.