The year 2025 stands as a defining chapter in India’s development journey. It saw policies translate into progress and intent into impact.
This year, India’s cultural resurgence moved decisively into the national mainstream, reflecting a confidence that had been building steadily over the past decade.
The year marked a defining moment in the country’s spiritual landscape with the completion of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. In a historic moment in November this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the saffron Dharma Dhwaja at the top of the temple.
This year will also be remembered as the festival of lights, Deepavali, has been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Similarly, the Maratha Military Landscapes of India were successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, significantly bolstering the country’s standing as a global heritage power.
In the spirit of collective participation, the 150th anniversary of the National Song Vande Mataram was launched as a year-long commemoration, with more than 1 crore sixty lakh citizens recording their renditions, transforming a historic symbol of the freedom movement into a nationwide public movement.
Meanwhile, mass participation in faith and cultural expression reached an unprecedented scale in 2025. The Mahakumbh in Prayagraj witnessed the participation of over 66 crore pilgrims, surpassing global religious congregations.
This year, the country also celebrated and honoured its foundational leaders. Commemorative events, including the release of special coins and stamps on the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was held on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. Also, the celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee was held, ensuring that the foundational leaders of the country remain central to the national dialogue.
Together, these developments underscored 2025 as a year when India’s civilisational confidence translated into visible, collective, and enduring expression.
