In the morning, halfway to Jhulasan, at Kallol, traffic was suddenly slowed down by hundreds of schoolchildren standing on the highway and on the footbridge over the road.

Sunita had no plans to stop at this village. But nevertheless students and their teachers, nuns and politicians camped on the roadside awaiting a glimpse and wave at Sunita as her cavalcade of seven cars came rushing through.

Children lined the roads at the entrance to Jhulasan village holding flowers and welcoming signs. Volunteers wearing Sunita Williams Organising Committee tags were in charge of the event.

At the temple at Jhulasan, the village where her father grew up, a party of folk musicians met her with dhols and whining shehnais. A special chair, on the back of a truck, for her to tour the village, had been organised. She however did not utilise it. Sunita, accompanied by her dad, Deepak Pandya, and a host of other relatives, made a private darshan.

While exiting the temple she told the assembled journalists that she was quite "overwhelmed" by the affection she had received.

Sunita was then feted at a ceremony in the main maidan of the village. Framed photographs, paintings, drawings, silver salvers were bestowed on her and finally a decorative crown, that kept toppling, was placed on her head.