Bowing before a silver clothwrapped idol of Sai Baba, a 19th century guru revered as a deity by his followers, the priest seeks blessings for the Republican politician and his wife, Usha.
Vadluru, a quiet village on the banks of a canal deep in the verdant countryside of Andhra Pradesh, is the ancestral home of Vance's wife, who will become the US second lady and the first who is not white - if Donald Trump is elected again.
"We bless her," said the priest, whose temple is in a building once owned by Usha's family, the Chilukuris. "She should get higher positions in her life. We priests offer special prayers for Usha and her husband."
Usha's great-grandfather moved out of Vadluru, but her ancestors are respected in the village as academic high-flyers and well-versed in Hindu scriptures.
This story is from the July 25, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
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This story is from the July 25, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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