Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
An ocean of Hindu devotees throng the streets of Ayodhya amid the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on January 22, 2024.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here. We received this image on our Whatsapp tipline (9999499044), too, requesting us to fact-check it.
Fact
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of the viral photo, which led us to this Youtube short, dated June 21, 2023, stating it shows the crowd at the iconic Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha.
A further search led us to this OneIndia photo feature on the Rath Yatra, dated June 21, 2023, featuring the viral image. “Crowd of devotees during the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, in Puri, Tuesday, June 20, 2023,” read the caption of the photo. Similar reports can be seen here, here and here, confirming that the viral photo shows a crowd of devotees during the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha.
Also Read: Burj Khalifa Displays Image Of Lord Ram? No, Viral Photo Is Altered
Result: False
Sources
OneIndia report, June 21, 2023
Photo, TimesContent.com, June 20, 2023
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form.
Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
