India prays for safe return of Sunita Willaims

People in different parts of the country are praying for Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams safe return to earth after six months in space.

Meerut / Karnal / Allahabad, June 21 : People in different parts of the country are praying for Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams' safe return to earth after six months in space.

In Meerut, students of Meerut University performed a fire ritual. Atul Pradhan, a student said: "It is a matter of great honour for the entire world that a woman, after spending six months in space is returning back to earth. We want that her journey is safe."

In Karnal, students and staff of 'Tagore Bal Niketan' - the school where India-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla had studied, also performed special prayers to seek divine intervention for Williams' safety.

"We are continuously praying for her safety and wish that she doesn't land up in trouble. We hope that she comes back safely on the destined time," said Vimla Attreja, Principal.

Meanwhile, Hindu priests in Allahabad also prayed for Sunita Williams.

"We are praying for Sunita William's safe return. We asked the river Goddess for her safety and prosperity in life," said Hindu priest Jyotadin Dwivedi, whose monastery held a special fire-prayer by the side of the confluence of Rivers Yamuna and Ganges.

Many monasteries in the holy city gathered pilgrims and devotees who prayed for William and made offerings to Gods.

"It is common belief that our Gods and Goddesses reside up there in space. Sunita Williams is an icon for us. We prayed to Lord Shiva asking to ensure her safe return," said Ram Lotan, a priest.

Elsewhere in Ahmedabad, Muslims performed prayers. Children and adults both held posters and banners and prayed to the almighty for Williams' safety.

A spate of prayer ceremonies have been held in India ever since, for no further hitches to the safe return of Atlantis.

Atlantis is scheduled to return to Kennedy Space Center in Florida today.

Tension had griped many persons in India a fortnight ago when the NASA reported a bump in Atlantis' heat protection system.

After NASA's Mission Control issued a warning, astronauts on the US space shuttle assessed the damage caused to its body during lift off.

NASA had said the blanket protrusion was exposed a few inches of underlying layers of the shuttle, which could have led to damage during the heat of re-entry, but denied any possible catastrophe.

There was also a crash last week at the station's primary computer network, raising concerns that the half-finished 100-billion dollars outpost would have to be temporarily abandoned.

ANI