The god of truth and righteousness is supporting the Democratic Party in this year's US presidential election, according to Hindu priests in Kamala Harris' ancestral Indian village.
A single narrow road lined with coconut trees leads to Thulasendrapuram, a village surrounded by paddy fields in Tamil Nadu and once home to Harris' maternal grandfather.
A large picture of the smiling Democrat stands at the village entrance near its main temple, a sprawling structure with a towering, decorated gate.
Community prayers began the day after president Joe Biden withdrew from the race, paving the way for Harris to ascend to the top of the ticket, and are expected to continue daily until voting day.
Hours after sunrise, head priest M Natrajan, dressed in a sarong, offered sweets and rice pudding to Dharmasastha, the Hindu god of truth and righteousness, to whom the centuries-old temple is dedicated.
Sri Dharmasastha temple in Thulasendrapuram, the ancestral village of Kamala Harris (Photo: Idrees Mohammed/AFP via Getty Images)
"We prayed for her, and she became vice-president," the 61-year-old priest told AFP. "With the blessing of our all-powerful deity, we are confident she will now become president too."
Another large image of Harris stands outside the temple's gates, adorned with intricate artwork, and dozens of villagers gathered there.
The scale of the prayers will increase as the elections approach, said Natrajan, who also works as a veterinarian at the nearby animal dispensary.
Harris' name appears on a list of donors on one of the temple walls, but she has not visited the village since being sworn in as vice president in 2021.
"This time if she wins again, the celebrations will be grander than anything the village has ever seen," the priest said. "After becoming president, she must visit."
The offerings were "donated by the people of the village," said J Sudhakar, 50, an influential local leader whose wife is the local councillor. "It is a collective effort of everyone in the village for one of our own."
Village reaps benefits from Kamala Harris' high profile
Harris' maternal grandfather PV Gopalan left the village decades ago, but residents say the family has maintained close links and regularly donated to the temple's upkeep.
Harris, 59, was born in California but was often taken to India by her mother, breast cancer specialist Shyamala Gopalan, and has spoken about the influence of her maternal grandfather. She has a diverse religious background—she is a Baptist, while her husband is Jewish.
Government employee Vijay Kumar insists the village has benefited from Harris' high profile. A local commercial bank donated 10 million rupees (£92,547.7) to rejuvenate a long-dead reservoir in the area. "They did that only because of Kamala Harris' association with our village," the 59-year-old said.
But even before she seeks to become leader of the world's most powerful country, Harris faces demands from a constituency continents away. "Only the very bright can go to America, but if she can get some companies to open in our area, our kids can work there," said Sudhakar, the local politician.
And farmer T Selvi, 53, added: "She was vice president, and now she will become president, but she should do something for us too. What is the point otherwise?" (AFP)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)