Assam's Rongali Bihu celebrations reached new heights (literally) as Mike Fincke performed the traditional Bihu dance aboard the International Space Station, earning praise from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A video of the performance, which quickly went viral on social media, shows Fincke-who is married to Assamese native Renita Saikia-dancing in zero gravity with a traditional red-and-white gamosa draped around his neck, as a Bihu song plays in the background.
The unique moment blended Assamese cultural expression with the extraordinary setting of space.
Reacting to the video, Sarma shared it on X, writing, "Bihu in an International Space Station. Kudos to astronaut Mike Fincke for this special gesture to Assam's culture. It's wonderful to see Bihu going global, especially after the special focus given by Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji during #BihuBinandia."
Bihu in an International Space Station 🌃🚀👨🚀
Kudos to astronaut Mike Fincke for this special gesture to Assam's culture. It's wonderful to see Bihu going global, especially after the special focus given by Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji during #BihuBinandia. pic.twitter.com/yKcFwCMdDI
- Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa)
The chief minister's reference was to Bihu Binandia, a record-setting cultural event held in Guwahati in April 2023 where around 10,000 performers participated in a grand Bihu showcase in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Often referred to as Assam's "son-in-law," Fincke's gesture has resonated widely, with many hailing it as a proud moment for the state.
His zero-gravity performance, complete with signature Bihu moves, has been seen as a symbolic milestone in taking Assamese culture to a global, and now interstellar, stage.