A video showing two groups clashing and throwing stones at each other has been circulated with claims that it depicts devotees fighting at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. However, these claims are false and misleading. This is an old video from the Bagwal Mela 2024, in Devidhura village, Uttarakhand. This festival is known for its traditional stone-pelting ritual.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) propaganda account @QueenBangla wrote, “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally, “You can identify terrorists by their clothes…” That’s what I was going to say.” (Translated from Bengali).
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @faiyyaz_khan07, @khaaan_0
The truth about the video shared as Kumbh Mela, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video. We found that the video was not from Kumbh Mela Prayagraj, but an old video from Bagwal Mela, Uttarakhand.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video using Google Lens. This led us to initial social media posts and several media reports containing similar visuals. According to the media reports (1, 2, 3, 4), This is an old video from the Bagwal Mela 2024, in Devidhura village, Uttarakhand. This festival is known for its traditional stone-pelting ritual.
It is important to note that during this festival, participants throw stones at each other while shielding themselves with wooden shields. This has no connection to riots or the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj. The stones are replaced by fruits such as apples and pears and with flowers.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the video was unrelated to Kumbh Mela Prayagraj 2025.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) January 28, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing two groups clashing and throwing stones at each other has been circulated with claims that it depicts devotees fighting at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. However, these claims are false and misleading. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/rHX0xeJXZM
Intent
Propaganda accounts are circulating old videos with misleading claims to set their narrative against a particular community.
Conclusion
Claim– The video depicts devotees fighting at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
Fact– The video was not from the Maha Kumbh Mela but an old video from Bagwal Mela, Uttarakhand.
Related Article: Fact Check: An image of Jawaharlal Nehru immersing his mother’s ashes in a river falsely linked to Kumbh Mela – D-Intent Data
