Shubhanshu Shukla, who became a Group Captain in March 2024, has logged over 2,000 flying hours. ISRO introduced him as one of the astronauts for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, in the same year, after which, in June 2025, he also became the first Indian Astronaut to travel aboard the International Space Station for mission Axiom-4.He often shares glimpses of planetary bodies from his journeys in space, and this time his recently posted video has given viewers an opportunity to celebrate Diwali just the right way.Diwali has a way of making the whole country look up and cherish the mesmerising patterns of light created by bursting crackers. We look up at strings of lights on balconies, at rockets and crackers streaking into the night sky, and at the small flames of diyas that seem to hold the darkness back for a little while. For many of us, the festival is about light, and about the strange comfort of seeing so many small glows come together. But the ISS astronaut shared a glimpse of lightning streaking across the Earth, and it has been going viral online.
Shubhanshu Shukla finds “nature’s fireworks” above Earth
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared a video of lightning flashing across Earth, filmed from space and posted just ahead of Diwali. The report says he described the sight as “nature’s very own fireworks.”Posting the video as part of his Dhanteras greetings, he posted the mesmerising clip showing repeated flashes against the dark backdrop of Earth, and the effect looks like fireworks.Along with the video, Shukla also wished his friends and their families a happy Dhanteras, captioning the video, “ Diwali has always held a special place in my heart and has been my favourite festival for as long as I can remember. There is something about the magic of lights, the sparkle and the fireworks that fills me with a sense of wonder and joy.While in space, I captured this video and couldn’t help noticing the flashes of lightning dancing across the Earth below. Looking down from space, they reminded me of nature’s very own fireworks — a beautiful, unexpected reminder that the universe has its own way of celebrating light.It felt particularly special to come across this sight, and I couldn’t think of a more fitting day to share it.”
Social media response
The video has been going viral online and has received several reactions online. One user wrote, “Hi Brother, what a beautiful way to connect the magic of Diwali with nature’s own fireworks. A truly special sight from space! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Dhanteras.” Another added, “Wonderful it is, truly…. Thanks for sharing this beautiful masterpiece of your recordings from space.” A third user wrote, “Diwali indeed is special. For me, it’s more about people’s positivity during the festival that makes me happy. Firecrackers on the other hand, are something that I avoid”, next user wrote, “It feels surreal to see”.
