Top News

From Space to savoury sweets: Sunita Williams relishes iconic Indian dessert in Kerala, declares it her 'favourite'
ET Online | January 27, 2026 2:38 AM CST

Synopsis

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams went viral during her recent visit to Kerala after she was seen enjoying falooda at a local dessert outlet in Kozhikode. Videos shared by the outlet and later from the Kerala Literature Festival showed Williams relishing the popular Indian sweet and identifying it as her favourite dessert, drawing warm reactions online. The moment stood out for its simplicity and came shortly after Williams announced her retirement from NASA following a 27-year career marked by multiple International Space Station missions and major contributions to human spaceflight.

Listen to this article in summarized format

Loading...
×
Sunita Williams Shares a Sweet Moment in Kerala
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams charmed fans during her recent visit to India by stopping at a local dessert outlet in Kozhikode to enjoy the iconic Indian dessert, falooda. The moment was captured on video by the outlet it and quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention on social media.

In the clip, Williams is seen seated comfortably, smiling and enjoying the dessert in a relaxed setting. A playful text overlay read, “From zero gravity to full falooda,” referencing her space missions and creating a delightful contrast with the everyday Indian treat. Her relaxed demeanor and visible enjoyment won the hearts of viewers, highlighting a personal and approachable side of the celebrated astronaut.

A Memorable Moment at the Kerala Literature Festival

Williams’ falooda encounter continued at the Kerala Literature Festival, where she momentarily hesitated over the dessert’s name, mixing it up with other cold sweets such as kulfi and ice cream. The audience quickly corrected her, and when asked which dessert she liked best during her visit to Kozhikode, she smiled and confirmed it was falooda. The candid exchange earned applause from the crowd, underlining her humility and warmth.



Falooda Nation described the visit as a cherished experience, expressing pride in hosting a globally recognized astronaut and sharing the flavours of India with her. The outlet’s social media post celebrated the encounter as an unforgettable moment, noting the honour of welcoming someone who had spent so much of her life exploring the skies.


Social Media Reactions and Career

The videos of Williams enjoying falooda have sparked widespread admiration online. Viewers praised her simplicity and approachable personality, noting how she blended confidence with a casual and friendly presence. Many fans highlighted the contrast between her extraordinary achievements in space and her delight in an everyday Indian dessert. Comments reflected excitement and pride, with some even suggesting that the outlet reserve a table in her honour.


This light-hearted visit comes shortly after Williams announced her retirement from NASA, effective December 27, 2025. Over her 27-year career, she completed three missions aboard the International Space Station, including long-duration stays, and accumulated a total of 608 days in space. She also completed nine spacewalks totaling over 62 hours—a record for a female astronaut—and commanded two ISS expeditions.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Williams as a trailblazer in human spaceflight, noting that her leadership and achievements advanced exploration and paved the way for future missions to the Moon and beyond. Her career has inspired generations of aspiring astronauts and explorers.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK