Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Shares Aam Ras & Gajar Ka Halwa with Crewmates on ISS, PM Modi Applauds Milestone
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Shares Aam Ras & Gajar Ka Halwa with Crewmates on ISS, PM Modi Applauds Milestone
In a historic first, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), brought a taste of India to space by carrying traditional Indian sweets—gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and aam ras—for his fellow international astronauts. During a video interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shukla shared that his crewmates enjoyed the Indian delicacies, marking a cultural and emotional moment for the mission.
The ISS completes 16 orbits around Earth each day, allowing Shukla to witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets daily a rare celestial experience he described as awe-inspiring.
During the call, PM Modi congratulated Shukla for hoisting the Indian tricolour in space, calling him “the farthest from Indian soil but closest to the heart of every Indian.” Modi lauded the astronaut’s mission as a “Shubh-aarambh (auspicious beginning)” to a new era in India’s space exploration, connecting it to the vision of Mission Gaganyaan.
Shukla, part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space, reflected on the experience, saying, “This journey is not just mine, it belongs to every Indian. I’m absorbing everything like a sponge.” He described the challenges of zero gravity, especially adjusting to everyday activities like sleeping and movement.
The conversation ended on a high note with both PM Modi and Shukla raising the patriotic slogan, “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” resonating from Earth to space a proud moment for the nation.
