RAFIQ MAQBOOL

Associated Press
Neelam Krishan, 11, studies at her home in Thane near Mumbai, India, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
AP PHOTOS: A school under a highway is a sanctuary for disadvantaged children in India
THANE, India (AP) — It’s early morning at a traffic intersection in Thane, a city on the outskirts of Mumbai, the bustling financial capital of India that’s home to more than 20 million people.
 
Abdul Sattar, 70, operates a power loom at a workshop in Bhiwandi, India, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
AP PHOTOS: Decades-old weaving businesses near India’s financial capital struggle to survive
BHIWANDI, India (AP) — Abdul Sattar stands in a dimly lit aisle surrounded by dozens of electric-powered looms that make a rhythmic din several decibels above what is considered healthy for a human ear.
 
A dog rides on the back of a scooter as people celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Mumbai, India, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A dog on a scooter with Holi powder on its forehead shows how much Indians love their pets
A photo of a dog in India on a scooter, its forehead daubed with colored powder, is a potent symbol of how many households treat pets as family and include them in festivities, including Holi.
 
INS Nilgiri, left, along with Submarine Vaghsheer, right, and INS Surat during their commissioning ceremony at a naval dockyard in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
India’s navy launches submarine, warships to guard against China’s presence in Indian Ocean
India’s navy has launched a submarine, a destroyer and a frigate built at a state-run shipyard. The move on Wednesday underscores the importance of protecting the Indian Ocean region through which 95% of the country’s trade moves amid a strong Chinese presence.
 
Members of various Indigenous communities pose for a photo while attending the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. From top left, Saina Ekaterina Savvinova, 53, of Yakutsk, Russia, Antumalen Ayelen Antillanca Urrutia, 26, of Huapi Island, Chile, Sydney Males, 27, of Otavalo, Ecuador, Big Wind Carpenter, 31, of Wind River Reservation, United States, Flora Vano, 39, of Port Vila, Vanuatu, Puyr dos Santos Tembe, 47, of Belem, Brazil, Mingma Chhiri, 40, of the Khumbu Pasanglhamu Municipality District, Nepal, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, 41, of N'Djamena, Chad, Ninawa Inu Pereira Nunes, 50, of Feijo, Brazil, Marynne Rimbao, 42, of Unda village, Papua New Guinea, Didja Tchari Djibrillah, 30, of the Mayo-Kebbi East, Chad, and Jackson Michael, 40, of the Borneo, Malaysia. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indigenous peoples, impacted by climate change, raise alarm about the planet at COP29
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — They share stories of rising seas, burning trees, contaminated water and disease.
 
An artist works on an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha inside a workshop ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
An AP photographer captures an artist working on an idol of Hindu god Ganesha ahead of festival
Rafiq Maqbool has been with The Associated Press for more than 20 years, covering conflict, politics, fashion shows, sports and everyday life. He has been based in Mumbai for the past several years.
 
An artist works on an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha inside a workshop ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
AP PHOTOS: Indians celebrate the birthday of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha
MUMBAI, India (AP) — A large idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha sat in the back of an open truck traveling along a busy Mumbai street, dwarfing other objects on the road.
 
Rescuers make their way to the upper regions as they search mud and debris for a third day after landslides set off by torrential rains in Wayanad district, Kerala state, India, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Hopes of finding more survivors in the mud and debris wane after landslides in India kill 194
Hopes of finding more than 180 missing people alive are waning as rescue workers searched through mud and debris for a third day after landslides set off by torrential rains killed at least 194 people in southern India.
 
In this photo provided by Reliance Industries, Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, Friday, July 12, 2024. (Reliance Industries via AP)
Extravagant wedding celebrations for the son of Asia’s richest man conclude with a reception
A wedding reception in India completes the monthslong celebrations as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend.
 
In this photo provided by Reliance Industries, Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, Friday, July 12, 2024. (Reliance Industries via AP)
The son of Asia’s richest man gets married in the year’s most extravagant wedding
The youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, has married his longtime girlfriend in what many have dubbed the wedding of the year.
 
People walk past the venue decorated with lights ahead of billionaire Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani's wedding to Radhika Merchant at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, Thursday, July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
The son of Asia’s richest man is set to marry in the year’s most extravagant wedding
Global celebrities, business tycoons and politicians are arriving in India’s financial capital to attend the wedding of the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, the world’s ninth richest man.
 
Indian passengers who travelled in an unmarked Legend Airlines A340 from Vatry Airport in France, arrive at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. A charter plane that was grounded in France for a human trafficking investigation arrived in India with 276 Indians aboard early Tuesday, authorities said. The passengers had been heading to Nicaragua but were instead blocked inside the Vatry Airport for four days in an exceptional holiday ordeal. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
276 Indians stuck in a French airport for days for a human trafficking probe arrive in India
A charter plane grounded in France for a human trafficking investigation has arrived in India carrying 276 Indians who had been blocked inside a rural French airport for days.
 
Fans of Indian superstar Rajinikanth, cheer at a cinema hall as they celebrate the screening of his latest film "Jailer" in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Fans in India rejoice as superstar actor Rajinikanth’s latest movie hits theaters
Fans of Rajinikanth, one of India’s biggest movie superstars, are thronging theaters and celebrating with dancing and prayers as his latest film hits screens. The first screening began at 6 a.m. local time on Thursday.
 
Rescuers dig graves to bury the bodies of victims at the site of a landslide in Raigad district, western Maharashtra state, India, Thursday, July 20, 2023. While some people are reported dead many others feared trapped under piles of debris. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Landslide triggered by heavy rains kills 10 and traps many others in western India
A landslide triggered by torrential rains in India’s western Maharashtra state has killed ten people, with many others feared trapped under piles of debris.
 
Mumbai imposes strict virus restrictions as infections surge
The teeming metropolis of Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, the Indian state worst hit by the pandemic, face stricter restrictions for 15 days in an effort to stem the surge of coronavirus infections.
 
Rescuers find 14 bodies after building collapse in India
Rescuers have found 14 bodies and pulled out 11 survivors as they begin winding down operations at the site of a dilapidated building that collapsed in India’s financial capital of Mumbai.
 
AP Photos: Centuries-old Indian pole wrestling goes global
MUMBAI, India (AP) — Is it gymnastics? Is it yoga? Is it even a sport?

Picture a person climbing a coconut tree. Now imagine the person twisting, turning, rotating and practicing yoga postures, all while firmly gripping the tree with the thighs.
 
20 bodies found in India rescue helicopter crash
Soldiers using ropes reached the crash site Wednesday and found the bodies of 20 people, including five air force crew members, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne told reporters.
 
Bad weather hampering Indian flood rescue efforts
The army resumed helicopter flights to rescue stranded people late Sunday after rain stopped and dense fog lifted in the Himalayan region, Brig. Uma Maheshwar said.