From Mahakumbh stampede to Messi mania: 10 pictures that defined, disturbed and delighted India in 2025

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in 2025, some images captured the very soul of India.

From the haunting photograph of Saurabh Rajput’s murder in Meerut to the stunned silence of newlyweds in Pahalgam after a terror attack, the nation faced moments of heartbreak and horror.

Yet, there were triumphs that inspired pride: the Women’s World Cup team celebrating victory, Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic journey to the International Space Station, and the chaotic energy of Lionel Messi’s visit, which revealed both adoration and disorder.

These snapshots of grief, courage, and celebration defined a year that was as unforgettable as it was extraordinary.

Faith, frenzy and a stampede

The Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, a festival that usually showcases India's vibrancy and draws the world's attention, turned tragic at the start of the year when a stampede claimed more than 30 lives. The incident took place when devotees were sleeping along the riverbanks were trampled by others returning from an early-morning dip in the holy waters.

The tragedy raised serious questions about crowd management and administrative preparedness. Disturbing visuals from the site showed scattered personal belongings along the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, and shocked, frightened devotees trying to make sense of the chaos.

A crime sealed in cement that stunned Meerut

In March, the blue drum murder case in Meerut sent shockwaves far beyond the city for its sheer brutality and chilling details. The body of 35-year-old former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput was discovered chopped into pieces and hidden inside a blue plastic drum, sealed with cement, inside his own home in the Brahmpuri area.

Police investigations soon pointed to his wife Muskan Rastogi and her alleged partner Sahil Shukla, who were arrested after returning from a holiday in Himachal Pradesh. Investigators say the murder was meticulously planned, driven by an extramarital relationship, and later concealed in an attempt to erase all traces of the crime. A chargesheet running over 1,000 pages was filed, packed with forensic findings and witness statements, dismissing rumours of occult involvement.

Terror in Pahalgam

On April 22, the serene meadows of Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam turned into a scene of horror when Pakistan-backed terrorists opened fire and killed 26 civilians.

Among the most heartbreaking images was that of Himanshi Narwal, sitting in stunned silence after her husband, Vinay Narwal, was shot dead at point blank. The newlyweds, on their honeymoon barely a week after marriage, became the face of the tragedy, a single picture capturing the enormity of the loss and the cruelty of the attack.

India’s reply to Pakistan

India responded to Pakistan's misadventure with strong force, first crippling key terror infrastructure, and then striking deep into military bases. But beyond the military action, the daily briefings during Operation Sindoor carried a symbolism of their own.

The attack in the Valley had reportedly targeted victims by community and even killed husbands in front of their wives; the name "Sindoor" itself was chosen as a pointed reminder of that cruelty.

In the tense days that followed, India's message was delivered to the world through back-to-back briefings led by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

Their presence flipped the narrative: women were not just mourning the violence Pakistan-sponsored terrorists had inflicted; they were the ones answering it. The image projected was unmistakable, India's resolve was firm, and its frontline voices were women who embodied strength, and country's refusal to be intimidated.

The Ahmedabad air crash that left one survivor

One of the year’s most harrowing images came from the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. A London-bound Boeing Dreamliner carrying over 200 passengers collapsed within seconds of takeoff, staying airborne only briefly before plunging down in a nose-up, tilted position.

In a near-miraculous outcome, all on board, except one British-Indian survivor, lost their lives. The aircraft also crashed onto a medical hostel building, killing several students inside, deepening the tragedy.

A historic first on the ISS

Shubhanshu Shukla’s photo made headlines worldwide and in country after he became the first Indian astronaut to enter the International Space Station, a historic milestone. The Lucknow-born astronaut travelled as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between SpaceX, Nasa, and Axiom Space.

Upon arrival, Shukla and his crewmates were greeted with warm hugs and handshakes by members of Expedition 73. Axiom mission commander Peggy Whitson then presented astronaut pins to Shukla, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, all marking their first journey to space.

The image that defined India’s Women’s World Cup triumph

The picture from India’s 2025 Women’s World Cup victory became one of the defining images of the year. It showed the players erupting in celebration, the tricolour held high as they sprinted across the field. Some had sunk to their knees in disbelief, while others embraced through tears of joy. Gathered around the glittering trophy, the team radiated pride and unity, capturing the winning moment that resonated across the nation.

Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match, while Deepti Sharma earned the Player of the Tournament award. The Team India received a record prize purse of about Rs 37.3 crore, a staggering 239% increase from the previous edition, specifying the tournament’s dramatic rise in stature and the growing recognition of women’s cricket across the world.

Messi’s India visit thrills fans but exposes chaos

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s India tour in late 2025 generated massive excitement across the country. One widely discussed photograph from Kolkata showed Messi looking visibly puzzled as he was surrounded by security personnel and staff amid an overwhelming crowd.

His visit to the city in December, part of the "GOAT India Tour," saw him virtually unveil a giant statue and greet fans, but the event was overshadowed by chaotic crowd management, damaged stadium property, and widespread criticism. The West Bengal Chief Minister later issued an apology, and inquiries were launched into the organisers’ handling of the event.

Women journalists reclaim space at Taliban briefing

A photograph that drew wide attention showed female journalists seated prominently in the front row during a press conference by the visiting Taliban delegation in New Delhi. The event, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s second presser at the Afghan Embassy within 48 hours, was convened after strong public criticism over the absence of women journalists at his earlier briefing on Friday.

The image stood out, especially because the Taliban had barred women reporters from the previous interaction, a move Muttaqi later described as a “deliberate” decision.

Xi’s parade with Putin and Kim

A geopolitically charged image that dominated headlines showed China’s President Xi Jinping hosting a grand military parade, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drawing global attention from the front row.

Beijing staged the spectacle to mark 80 years since the end of World War II, with nearly two dozen world leaders in attendance, many signalling their intent to deepen ties with China amid heightened US tariff pressures.

The display appeared an increasingly multipolar world, even as Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff-era policies reflected his push to reassert the US as a singular hegemonic power.
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