Fact Check: Viral image claiming that two Muslim threw chopped cow’s head into a temple is misleading

A screenshot is in circulation on social media with the claim that two men from a specific religion threw a chopped cow's head into a temple. In the viral picture, a person is seen holding a buffalo head on his own head and walking from a crowded area. The person holding the buffalo head, along with others in the picture, resembles a Hindu priest."

Users on social media shared the picture with a caption inciting violence against a particular religion:

"That chopped cow's head was thrown by two Muslim men into a temple. The priest had to do this to maintain the temple's sanctity. And now, see how this Islamist is mocking it... Bloody secularism."

Fact Check : We found the claim is false. An old photograph was shared with a misleading claim.

Through a reverse image search, we found several related photographs on Shutterstock with the caption, "Animal sacrifice in Guwahati, Assam, India - 07 Oct 2019."

We also found a series of photographs of these rituals, which were uploaded with the ritual description. Hindu priests hold a sacrificial buffalo during the Hindu festival Maha Navami of Durga Puja, in Billeswar Devalaya, Assam, India, 07 October 2019.

Devotees carry a buffalo after sacrifice during the Hindu festival Maha Navami of Durga Puja, in Billeswar Devalaya, Assam, India, 07 October 2019. A total of 40 buffaloes are being sacrificed at Billeswar Devalaya to mark the five-day long Durga Pooja or prayers and the sacrifice of live animals is performed to appease the goddess Durga and to shower blessings on the community.

Furthermore, when we searched for "buffalo sacrifice at Billeswar Devalaya during Durga Puja", we found the viral image on Getty Images. The image was uploaded with the title, "A buffalo sacrifice at the Billeswar Devalaya Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, during Durga Puja." The photograph was captured by David Talukdar.

"Additionally, the post also mentioned: '29th of September 2017, Belsor, Assam, India. A sacrificed buffalo head carried by a man at Billeswar Devalaya Temple of the Hindu goddess Durga on the occasion of Navami Durga Puja Festival at Belsor on the outskirts of Guwahati, in Assam, India.”

We also found a video by a YouTuber named CRD Drama uploaded on his channel on October 18, 2018. At 5:34 timestamp, we found the same ritual with the priest wearing the same costume."

Apart from the above sites, we also found ETV Bharat published a story with the title "Muslims part of Durga puja celebration in this Assam temple".

In the article we also found the 350-year-old Billeswar Devalaya temple in Assam's Nalbari district is a living example of communal harmony and brotherhood between the Hindus and Muslims. Muslims are an integral part of the daily rituals and are equally excited for the upcoming festive season.

Hence, we found the claim is false. An old photo of a ritualistic animal sacrifice in Assam’s Billeswar Devalaya was shared with a false claim.