Claim
An image of Lord Rama is displayed in Lal Chowk, Kashmir.

Fact
The image of Lord Rama is displayed not at Lal Chowk in Kashmir, but at the Clock Tower in Dehradun.

As the inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Temple is scheduled for January 22, many claims centered around the much-anticipated consecration are doing the rounds on social media. One such claim alleges that an image of Lord Rama is displayed in Lal Chowk, Kashmir. The statement has spread on social media that an image of Lord Rama has been displayed at Lal Chowk in Kashmir.

In a statement found in X, “What has changed in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370? There has been a sea of differences that Congress, Leftist workers, and stone pelters will never acknowledge. Shops of Mehbooba Mufti & Shiekh Abdullah are closed forever. This is Lal Chowk Srinagar.” said.| Archived post

Newschecker did a fact check on this viral video and found it to be false.

Fact Check/ Verification

We used the InVid Tool to extract key frames of the viral video and conducted a Google reverse image search on a few of them, which took us to a YouTube Channel carrying the same video.  One such page named Madhu Ki Dunia 05 carried a video featuring an exact video similar to the viral one, on January 15, 2024. The caption states “Dehradun Clock Tower”.

With this in mind, we have taken a close look at viral videos and YouTube videos. Notice that the clock tower model and the board behind it are identical.

Along with this, we conducted a Google keyword search with “Clock Tower in Dehradun” and found several news reports on the same along with an image of the Clock Tower that was similar to the key frames of the viral one.

According to a Hindustan Times report dated January 18, 2024, on Wednesday (17th Jan) night, the Dehradun Clock Tower became a canvas for a spectacular display of Lord Rama’s images. The laser light show was organized to coincide with the Rama Prana Pratishtha, the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The clock tower, situated in the heart of the city, dazzled the onlookers with various projections of the revered deity.

According to a Pardapash report dated January 18, 2024, “Dehradun Clock Tower displays wonderful images of Lord Rama”.

We also checked the pictures of Srinagar clock tower in Kashmir (left) and found it to be different from Dehradun clock tower (right). The difference between these can be noted here.

Conclusion

So according to this fact-finding, the viral video shows Dehradun’s Clock Tower and not Lal Chowk in Kashmir.

Result: False

Our Sources:
1. YouTube Video By Madhu ki duniya05, Dated: January 15, 2024
2. Report By Hindustan Times, Dated: January 18, 2024
3. Report By Pardaphash, Dated: January 18, 2024

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