Fact Check: Video of Vultures not connected to Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony
Video of Vultures not connected to Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony
A video showing a group of vultures near the roadside has become widely popular on social media. Users are suggesting that these birds are descendants of Jatayu, a demigod from the ancient Indian epic, The Ramayana. Some claim that Lord Jatayu's group visited Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh just before the scheduled inauguration of the Ram Mandir on January 22.
The viral video was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by a parody account (@Snatani__1) of Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma. The caption reads: "After many years, Jatayu's group appeared in Ayodhya. This is nothing short of a miracle. Jaitu Sanatan, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Govind." The post has garnered over 168,400 views, 6,600 likes, and 1,000 retweets.
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
We searched the video using Invid software and conducted a reverse search on one of the key frames using Google. This investigation led us to a Facebook post from 2021 that featured the viral video. On October 8, 2021, a Facebook page named 'Dooz دوز‘shared the video with an Arabic caption asking, "Do you know the name of this bird?"
In March 2022, IPS officer Dipanshu Kabra (@ipskabra) humorously shared the video and quipped, "Undoubtedly, an emergency meeting has been convened for a serious matter."
A 2022 report by TV 9 Marathi also showcased the viral video with the title "Vultures: An Immediate Meeting Called for a Serious Matter – Watch the Viral Video of Vultures."
The report described, "The video captures a group of vultures perched by the side of the road... Observing the vultures gathered in this manner might give the impression that they are conducting an urgent meeting on a significant issue."
Hence, the viral video showing a group of vultures is old, dating back to 2021, and not linked to Ramayana or consecration ceremony at Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh