Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings and an important pilgrimage for Hindus. This year, however, several restrictions have been imposed on the Maha Kumbh in Haridwar due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Below is a picture of a massive crowd circulating along a riverbank on social media with the claim that it is the collection of devotees in Haridwar, despite the limitations of Covid-19.
Various Twitter and Facebook users shared the photo with a sarcastic caption that says ‘Covid restrictions in kumbh Mela # KumbhMela2021’. The archived version can be seen here.
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AWFA) found that the picture is of the Ardh Kumbh Mela held in Prayagraj in 2019.
AFWA investigation
Using reverse image search, we found a report by ‘China Global Television Network”What the picture showed on 15 January 2019. The caption reads: “An aerial photograph of the five-kilometer main bath at St. Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. ”
The big event started on January 15th and continues until March 4th. Millions of devotees from around the world participated in the largest congregation of religious pilgrims in the world.
BBC and Jagran also carried the same picture then.
According to reports, the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is held under Covid-19 standards to ensure the safety of devotees amid the pandemic. The government in Uttarakhand made it mandatory for pilgrims to perform negative RT-PCR test reports to enter the Mela.
The Haridwar Kumbh will be held from 1-30 April. According to some media houses, there has been a low footfall this year due to the increase in Covid cases.
Haridwar Kumbh Mela witnesses a low number of supporters amid an increase in COVID cases# COVID-19 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/wrGhVu67uO
– DNA (@dna) 2 April 2021
Therefore, to conclude, although the persistent Haridwar Kumbh testifies to large crowds, the picture that is being spread comes from the Ardh Kumbh held in 2019 in Prayagraj.
(Entries by Sonali Khatta in New Delhi)
ClaimA photo of large crowds of fans during the persistent Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, despite the limitations of Covid-19. ClosureThe photo is of the Ardh Kumbh Mela held at Prayagraj in 2019. Although the Haridwar Kumbh also sees large crowds, the footfall is lower due to Covid boom.
JHOOTH BOLE KAUVA KAATE
The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.
- 1 Crow: Half true
- 2 crows: mostly lies
- 3 crows: absolutely false
