Who didn’t dream of becoming an astronaut as a child? I know I did. Yet, like many childhood dreams, that ambition faded with time, quietly buried beneath the weight of growing up. But on July 14th, the day of India’s Chandrayaan-3 launch, that dormant dream stirred. Stepping into the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SHAR) was like stepping into my own past—surrounded by thousands of children, their eyes brimming with wonder. In their excitement, I found my own rekindled, a connection to the child I once was. Over a month of preparation and six hours of scouting led to 40 fleeting seconds where history unfolded before my lens. As the countdown echoed, each passing second heightened my anticipation. When the clock hit zero, I stood mesmerized, watching Chandrayaan-3 defy gravity and ascend—a plume of fire and smoke carrying it toward the moon. Time seemed to pause as the earth-shaking roar of engines enveloped me, grounding this extraordinary moment in my memory. In those 40 seconds, I witnessed not just a launch but a legacy in the making—a journey to leave India’s indelible footprint on the lunar surface, inspiring generations to dream and reach for the stars.

EXHIBITING ARTIST

Dheeraj Khandelwal, a Nikon Ambassador and internationally exhibited artist, brings cultural and natural landscapes to life with profound detail and emotion. His work has been featured by Paris-based gallery YellowKorner and showcased at LIFE Magazine, Times Square New York,Tokyo, Kuwait and Indian tourism. Blending surreal beauty with intricate storytelling, Dheeraj invites viewers to experience the delicate balance of the world through his lens—transforming moments into timeless art.