Fact Check: Video of AP CM Trying Hard to Remove Akshatalu From His Head is MISLEADING
Srivari Salakatla Brahmotsavam festivities 2023 have begun at the Tirumala temple from September 18 and would continue till September 26, 2023.
YSJaganmohanReddy
Srivari Salakatla Brahmotsavam festivities 2023 began at the Tirumala temple on September 18 and would continue till September 26, 2023. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy presented Pattu vastrams (silk clothes) to Lord Venkateswara on behalf of the AP government as part of traditions observed during the Brahmotsavams. As a part of this ritual, the TTD priests blessed the CM with holy akshata and presented prasadam to him.
A video of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister brushing his hair rigorously is going viral on all platforms of social media with the claim that he is allergic to the akshatalu (sacred rice) and so he is trying to remove them from his hair.
The video is being shared with the claim in Telugu “దేవుడి వస్త్రం అక్షింతలు పడవు అనుకుంటా మన ముఖ్యమంత్రికి”. When translated it claims: ‘AP CM seems to be allergic to divine clothes and akshatalu”
Fact Check:
The claim is Misleading. The AP CM is not trying to remove the sacred rice grains from his hair, he is just brushing his hair to keep it proper.
When we searched more videos on the TTD Brahmostavam, we found a few longer videos showing the AP CM adjusting his hair after the removal of a cloth wrapped around his head. The cloth was wrapped while he carried the clothes to be presented to Lord Venkateswara on behalf of the AP Government. It is part of a ritual where the CM presents the ‘pattu vastrams’ to the Lord, while his head is completely wrapped in a silk cloth.
After this ritual is completed, the priests belonging to TTD bless the CM as he is the head of the state. From the video, we can see that before the blessing ritual started, the cloth wrapped around the CM’s was taken off. After that, he rigorously brushed his hair.
Here is the longer video of the rituals conducted published by Sakshi TV on September 19, 2023.
When searched further, we found some more videos that show the Chief Minister repeatedly brushing his hair rigorously.
We also found a video that shows the compilation of various instances where he is seen brushing his hair rigorously.
Therefore, the AP CM did not deliberately try to brush away the sacred rice from his head. He is just adjusting his hair. The claim is misleading