This Viral Video Shows Wrestling Tournament In Rajasthan, Not ‘Save Aravalli’ Protest

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Aravalli Hills, a video showing a large crowd seated in a hilly area is circulating widely on social media with claims that it depicts a gathering from the “Save Aravalli” movement in Rajasthan.

The video surfaced as protests were reported in parts of northern India after the Supreme Court accepted a revised definition of the Aravalli Hills, which stretch across Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the National Capital Region of Delhi. Under the revised definition, an Aravalli hill is classified as a landform rising at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain, while two or more such hills within a 500-metre radius are considered an Aravalli range. Environmentalists have expressed concern that this definition could exclude several ecologically sensitive hills from protection, though the Union government has said the move is intended to bring regulatory clarity and uniformity, not weaken safeguards.

Against this backdrop, the viral video has been shared as supposed evidence of mass mobilisation for the Aravalli-protection movement.

An Instagram user shared the viral video with the caption, “If the government even looks at the Aravalli Mountains, the whole of Rajasthan will take to the streets.” The archived version of the post can be seen here. Similar posts making the same claim can be found here.

Evidence

Original Video Traced to Wrestling Tournament in Rajasthan

A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral clip led to an Instagram post dated August 31, 2025, featuring the same video. The caption of the post identified the scene as Rajasthan’s largest wrestling competition held in Kariri village of Karauli district. Notably, this upload predates the Aravalli Hills controversy, which gained momentum in November 2025, indicating that the video is unrelated to the ongoing protests.

YouTube Videos Confirm Footage Is From Wrestling Competition

Further verification using relevant keywords on YouTube revealed videos uploaded on August 31, 2025, by channels such as Jagat Tak News and Rajasthan TV News. These videos show wrestlers competing in an open arena, with the same crowd arrangement, surrounding buildings, and posters visible in the viral clip, confirming that the footage was recorded during a sporting event.

Media Coverage Confirms Wrestling Event

Additionally, an August 2025 report by Dainik Bhaskar states that the wrestling tournament is an annual event organised during the Bhairav Baba Lakhhi Fair in Kariri village. According to the report, wrestlers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan participate in the competition, which takes place at a ground surrounded by hills near the Todabhim subdivision.

Also Read: The Other Battlefield: How Pro-Pak Accounts Weaponised AI-Altered Clips Against India In 2025

Verdict

The viral video does not show a “Save Aravalli” protest. It is from a wrestling tournament held in Kariri village, Karauli district, Rajasthan, in August 2025.

FAQ

1- Does the viral video show a Save Aravalli protest in Rajasthan?
No. The video shows spectators attending a wrestling tournament, not a protest related to the Aravalli Hills.

2- Where was the viral video actually recorded?
It was recorded in Kariri village, Karauli district, Rajasthan.

3- When was the video recorded?
The video dates back to August 2025, months before the Aravalli Hills controversy intensified.

Sources
Instagram post, August 31, 2025 
YouTube video from Jagat Tak News, August 31, 2025  
YouTube video from Rajasthan TV News, August 31, 2025 
Dainik Bhaskar report, Aug 31, 
2025 BBC report, December 22, 2025