Prayers and hope: Sunita’s family in Gujarat awaits her safe return

Ahmedabad: With prayers on their lips, the Rawal family is counting down the hours until Tuesday evening when SpaceX's Dragon Freedom capsule, carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, begins its journey back to Earth. The splashdown will end the duo's nearly nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
In Ahmedabad, Sunita's cousin Dinesh Rawal told reporters that they have been concerned about her safety since the Boeing Starliner, which was originally scheduled to bring the astronauts home last year, developed technical issues.
"I had met her before her space flight in June 2024 in the US while visiting my children who live in New Jersey. We had spent three days together and Suni had enjoyed Gujarati food. She held my hand and mentioned to me that my hand reminded her of her father," said Rawal. Sunita's father Deepak Pandya passed away in 2020.
Dinesh Rawal explained that his health prevents immediate travel to the US, but he plans to speak to her after Nasa's post-landing protocols are complete. "She had connected with the family members, including my son Nilesh, via video call from the ISS and assured us that she was doing fine. Although we know that the operations are proceeding normally, our prayers will continue until she touches down safely," Rawal said.
In her father's native village of Jhulasan in Mehsana district, the Neelkanth Mahadev temple has been organising 108 Rudri Yag for her safety. Ajay Goswami, the priest, said that Sunita had visited the temple when she was in Gujarat.
"We hold yagna rituals every Sunday and chanting sessions every Monday for her safe return. We have completed 71 yagnas so far and will finish all 108 as planned, even after her return. She has put our village on the world map, and we are proud of her achievements," Goswami said.
Rawal echoed the sentiment, saying that she has made the family and country proud with her achievements. Rawal shared that Williams has maintained strong connections to India throughout her life, visiting Ahmedabad multiple times. "We have photo albums showing her riding camels, building sandcastles on Dwarka's beaches and exploring Ahmedabad's old city. She enjoys Gujarati cuisine. Even at her wedding, traditional delicacies like laddus and fulwadi were served."
Rawal said he plans to invite her to Gujarat again. "We will take her to Jhulasan and the temples she visited previously. She exemplifies grit, fearlessness and determination, making her the perfect role model for girls. During a trip to Jaipur, she arrived late, and we got worried. When she finally joined us, she reminded us that her military training had helped her become self-reliant," Rawal recalled, adding, "She is truly a trailblazer."