New Delhi: The Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, currently serving at the ISS, shared Diwali wishes to those who celebrate the festival across the world, including at the White House Diwali celebration event. She has been living on the International Space Station for almost five months, marking the occasion by thinking about her family’s cultural background and father’s efforts to pass the traditions on.
In the recorded message from the ISS, Williams said, “I want to share my warmest wishes for a happy Diwali with everyone celebrating today at the White House and around the world.” Even from the orbit of 260 miles above the Earth’s surface, she saw what she marvelled at—the message of hope and renewal, the victory of the good in the world. The astronaut described how her father tried to make her and her family embrace Diwali and other Indian festivals in her childhood and how she was grateful for that.
Appreciation for the White House Recognition
In her message, Williams also thanked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for celebrating Diwali and appreciating the Indians. “I would like to thank the President and the Vice President for coming over today to join us in celebrating the Diwali festival,” she said. The Diwali event organised in the White House also had other meanings as leaders, officials, and members of the community were coming together for a cultural celebration.
ISS duration for NASA astronauts
Williams started her space mission on June 5, 2020, together with Butch Wilmore as they flew on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. Their task was planned as a one-week demonstration flight, but they have to stay for more time because of some problems with Starliner. When NASA claimed that it was “too risky” to return the crew in Starliner, the spacecraft was returned to Earth on September 6, while the rest of Williams and Wilmore’s crew remained aboard the ISS as part of their extended mission. NASA expects the astronauts to come back to Earth in February next year, making their stay in space to be approximately eight months.
This was a clear Diwali’s message of hope and new beginnings from Williams, who’s message from the ISS touched the hearts of millions of people around the world, let alone the Indian American community to which she is an inspiration as an astronaut.
