(Image source from: Latestly.com)

On April 15, as Assamese community celebrates Bihu, the Assamese new year, an old video has resurfaced on social media which shows an astronaut doing the traditional Bihu dance up in space.

In a topographic point of zero gravity, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Mike Fincke had performed the Bihu dance with the traditional Gamucha around his neck. The video is from the year 2004 but it has reshared again on Twitter and people are loving it extremely.

Mike Fincke shares a special connection with the Assamese culture as his wife is Assamese NRI Renita Saikia. Back then, his traditional Bihu dance in space was shown live by NASA at the annual convention of the Assam Association of North America. It was indeed a special gesture and continues to be even today. So when a journalist shared the video on Twitter on the occasion of Rongali Bihu, it started going viral.

The video has been viewed over 43,000 times and people are in love with it.

What's #RongaliBihu without song and dance. Here's #NASA astronaut Mike Fincke performing Bihu aboard the International Space Station in 2004.

Mike is Assam's son-in-law, married to Renita Saikia, who also works at NASA. pic.twitter.com/OYR8ueQOUt

— Anupam Bordoloi (@asomputra) April 13, 2019

Different states and communities in India are currently marking the celebrations for the beginning of their respective New Year. On April 15, as Malayalis mark the festival of Vishu, Bengali people celebrate the Pohela Baisakhi. Each of these festivals sees enthusiastic celebrations from all communities.

By Sowmya Sangam