Meta-owned Instagram today announced its ‘What Kept India Scrolling in 2025’ Year-in-Review, highlighting the moments, people, and cultural shifts that shaped conversations on the platform this year.
From major sporting achievements and global cultural crossovers to nostalgia-driven trends and viral micro-moments, 2025 was a year where every event sparked new discussions, often overtaking previous ones.
Cricket Dominated the Instagram Feed
Cricket remained central to Indian pop culture, driving Instagram conversations throughout the year. India’s Champions Trophy victory sparked widespread patriotic celebrations. RCB’s “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” chant became a viral meme after the team won the trophy. Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket drew strong emotional responses, while the Indian women’s cricket team concluded the year with a World Cup win.
Indian Culture Went Global — And the World Joined In
Indian culture reached global stages across music, fashion, and entertainment. Hanumankind performed at Coachella, while Shah Rukh Khan, Kiara Advani, and Diljit Dosanjh represented India at the Met Gala. Luxury brands incorporated Kolhapuri chappals, and A.R. Rahman’s tracks featured on international fashion runways.
Indian audiences also engaged with global pop culture, from Ed Sheeran’s India tour and the viral Nicki Minaj pose to Taylor Swift and Cristiano Ronaldo’s engagements, all generating significant buzz on Instagram.
Nostalgia and Aesthetic Trends Took Over Feeds
Nostalgia remained a key theme. Films like Wake Up Sid, characters such as Bunny from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and songs like “Nadaan Parinde” and “Shehar Mein” from Rockstar resurfaced widely. The lo-fi digi-cam aesthetic — grainy, vintage, soft — dominated reels and carousels, especially among Gen Z and young adults.
People Who Sparked Conversations All Year
Several individuals captured Instagram’s attention in 2025. These included:
- The girl who resembled Mona Lisa at Mahakumbh.
- Ayush, who mispronounced “croissant” as “Prashant.”
- Sonali, the Kolhapur mehendi artist who recreated Rihanna’s wedding makeup.
- Sudhanshu Shukla, the first Indian in 40 years to visit the International Space Station.
Comedian Samay Raina also remained a recurring point of discussion, with ongoing buzz surrounding him and India’s Got Latent.
Micro-Moments That Kept India Scrolling
Daily viral moments fueled shares, memes, and conversations. Notable highlights included:
- Actor Veer Pahariya’s ‘langdi’ hook step.
- The debate around the 90-hour work week.
- Clips from Shark Tank India Season 4.
- A viral moment from the Coldplay concert.
- The rise of ‘fake wedding’ parties.
- The Labubus trend.
- The glowing turmeric trend.
- Parineeti Chopra’s dialogue “meri body main sensations” from Hasee Toh Phasee.
- The “Vishal Mega Mart” meme.
- The popularity of 5120×1080 ultra-wide thin reels.
Outlook
Instagram’s 2025 Year-in-Review highlights how Indian culture went global, cricket dominated conversations, nostalgia and lo-fi aesthetics shaped trends, and viral moments—from Kolhapuris to Coachella to everyday memes—kept the nation scrolling and sharing.