Kamala's Chennai-based aunt hopes to attend her swearing-in ceremony

The US election results are out and Dr. Sarala Gopalan can’t hold her excitement. For, her niece, Kamala Harris has just become the vice president-elect of the United States. Proud, the veteran doctor now hopes to attend her swearing-in ceremony, according to PTI.

The Chennai-based jubilant veteran doctor, who spoke to the news agency, said that she couldn’t speak to Harris on Saturday as she spent the entire day waiting for the announcement on her victory.

“How do you think I should feel about her victory. I feel very happy,” a proud Gopalan, a senior consultant at the Voluntary Health Services here, said. “I was waiting for the announcement till late in the night…I felt tired and had to retire for the night,” she
added.

“Hopefully,” was her response when asked if she would attend the swearing-in ceremony of her niece in the US.

Asked if she visited the Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple at Chennai’s Besant Nagar and offered prayers for Harris’ victory, she said, “Normally, whenever I visit the Varasiddhi Vinayagar temple I break coconuts.” “But this time I couldn’t visit the temple due to COVID-19,” Dr Gopalan said, but indicated her prayers were always with Harris.

A few years ago, after Harris called her up with a request, Dr Gopalan broke 108 coconuts at the Varasiddhi Vinayagar temple in keeping with the traditional practice.

The 56-year-old Harris, California senator, was picked by president-elect Joe Biden as his running mate in August. She is the first woman, Black, Indian-American vice president-elect and has her roots in Tamil Nadu.

(With inputs from agencies)