As Mahatma Gandhi once reflected, there are two days about which nothing can be done: yesterday and tomorrow. Yet, the year 2025 gave India a profound collection of yesterdays to remember—a relentless scroll of faith and fury, triumph and tragedy, where digital virality often collided with stark reality.
A Spiritual Start Shadowed by Tragedy
The year dawned with the spiritual grandeur of the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, a celestial gathering not seen for 144 years. From January 13 to February 26, millions converged at the Triveni Sangam for sacred baths on key dates like Mauni Amavasya and Maha Shivaratri. However, devotion turned to disaster on January 27, when a deadly stampede near the ghats claimed at least 30 lives, with unofficial reports suggesting a toll as high as 48, exposing critical lapses in crowd management.
Amid the sea of humanity, the digital age found its icons. A 16-year-old flower seller, Monalisa Bholsle, became the viral face of the Kumbh, while the enigmatic ‘IIT Baba’, Abhey Singh, captured widespread fascination. The online sphere buzzed further with quirky trends, including videos of devotees taking dips with their dogs and a cheeky advertisement offering a "dip from home" for Rs 500.
Security Shocks and National Resolve
The year's peace was brutally shattered on April 22, when terrorists linked to The Resistance Front (TRF) attacked tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran valley near Pahalgam, killing 26 people. The assault triggered a swift and seismic response from India. The very next day, India suspended the historic 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, signalling a hardened strategic stance.
This was followed by Operation Sindoor, a decisive military response launched in the early hours of May 7. In a meticulously coordinated action, Indian armed forces struck nine major terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir using advanced weaponry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later stated, "Within just 22 minutes, our forces destroyed nine of the biggest terrorist bases," underscoring a new red line in India's counter-terror doctrine.
Triumph on the Field and Turmoil in the Skies
In the sporting arena, 2025 was a year of historic breakthroughs. On March 10, the Indian men's cricket team clinched their third ICC Champions Trophy, defeating New Zealand in Dubai to end an ODI title drought dating back to 2013. Later, on November 2, the Indian women's cricket team scripted history by winning their maiden ODI World Cup on home soil, led by Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues.
June delivered both ecstasy and profound sorrow. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally won their first IPL title, the nation was soon jolted by the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed 260 people and raised grave questions about aviation safety protocols.
Culture, Controversy, and the Churn of Daily Life
The cultural landscape was equally eventful. Bollywood was rocked when actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed by an intruder in his Bandra home on January 16. Singer Udit Narayan faced backlash over consent after videos of him kissing fans surfaced. Global stars like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran made memorable visits, though Sheeran's impromptu Bengaluru performance was cut short by police.
Pop culture intersected with politics and law. Comedian Kunal Kamra faced violent backlash and an FIR for calling a politician a "gaddar." YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia apologized after an obscenity row over remarks on a show. In fashion, Shah Rukh Khan and Diljit Dosanjh shone at the Met Gala, while Prada faced a Rs 500 crore legal notice from India for allegedly copying Kolhapuri chappal designs.
As the year closed, challenges persisted. The Indian rupee hit a record low, breaching 91 against the US dollar in December. Delhi-NCR choked under hazardous pollution, and IndiGo faced massive flight disruptions due to new crew duty rules. Through it all—from the return of astronaut Sunita Williams to the debut of Stranger Things Season 5—India lived, argued, mourned, and celebrated, scrolling relentlessly towards an uncertain yet resilient future.
