Glows Like A Jewel’: Shubhanshu Shukla Shares Throwback Video Of India On Diwali From Space

Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 09:24 IST

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla described how India’s radiance stood out even from hundreds of kilometres above the Earth.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. (PTI Image)

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared a breathtaking video of India illuminated at night during Diwali, as seen from space. The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking awe across social media.

Filmed from the space station’s observation module during his 18-day orbital mission, the clip shows India glowing brilliantly from southwest to northeast, a living canvas of light stretching across the subcontinent.

In his poetic caption, Shukla, fondly known as “Shux", wrote, “Flying over India from space, from the sunlit southwest to the misty northeast, is like watching a living galaxy unfurl beneath you."

He described how India’s radiance stood out even from hundreds of kilometres above the Earth. “The peninsula glows like a jewel, Pune sparkles; Bengaluru and Hyderabad shimmer like constellations drawn by human hands," he said.

As the video pans north, faint glimmers from New Delhi come into view. “And far on the horizon, a faint yet familiar gleam, New Delhi makes its presence known," Shukla added.

Flying over India from space — from the sunlit southwest to the misty northeast — is like watching a living galaxy unfurl beneath you. You don’t just see it; you feel it in every fibre of your being.The peninsula glows like a jewel. To the left, Pune sparkles; below, Bengaluru… pic.twitter.com/ZWfwWFlz9R— Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan_shux) October 20, 2025

The astronaut also highlighted flashes of lightning streaking across the Bay of Bengal and central India – “purple flares," as he called them – “nature’s own pyrotechnics reminding you who the original artist of light truly is."

As the spacecraft glides toward the Himalayas, the glowing plains fade into dark mountain silhouettes before an orbital sunrise paints the sky in soft blue. Shukla concluded, “This isn’t just Diwali on Earth, it’s Diwali of Earth – the festival of lights written across an entire nation, glowing proudly on a cosmic stage."

Shuddhanta Patra

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public...Read More

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public...

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News viral Glows Like A Jewel’: Shubhanshu Shukla Shares Throwback Video Of India On Diwali From Space

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