Fact Check: Viral video claiming to show illuminated Ayodhya Shri Ram temple is Durga puja pandal erected as replica of the shrine
The Ayodhya Ram Mandir is set to be inaugurated on January 24, 2024. The construction work of the shrine is going on at a brisk pace.
Claim :
Electric work has been completed at the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya. The video shows a huge crowd witnessing a heavily illuminated Ayodhya Shri Ram temple.Fact :
The video shows a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata that was erected in October 2023 during the Durga Navratri festival
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is set to be inaugurated on January 24, 2024. The construction work of the temple is going on in full swing. According to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the Temple premises stretch up to 2.7 acres. This temple is being built by the Sompura family of temple architects, led by patriarch Chandrakant Sompura. The main temple structure will have three storeys, and five mandapas, and the temple will stand 161 feet tall.
Meanwhile, a video showing a huge crowd standing near a highly illuminated and fully built temple is going viral with a claim that electrical work has been completed in Ayodhya Ram mandir.
The claim in Hindi goes “श्रीराम मंदिर अयोध्या में विद्युत कार्य परीपूर्ण अलौकिक जगमगाहट...*जय श्री राम..!!!* “
Fact Check:
The claim is False. The video does not show the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, this is a video of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Durga Puja Pandal built in Kolkatta.
When we performed a reverse image search of the extracted keyframes from the video, we found that few social media posts confirming that it is a Durga puja Pandal in Kolkatta built during the Durga puja festival.
A YouTube video published by a channel named Anant Official showed the same visuals of the huge crowd near to highly illuminated Durga puja pandal shaped like the under-construction Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The video was shared on October 23, 2023, with the title ‘Ayodhya Ram Mandir Durga Puja Pandal Kolkata || Durga Puja Best Pandal Kolkata 2023’. The description of the video states that the pandal was organized by Santosh Mitra Square Puja committee.
Taking a cue from this, when we searched with the keywords “Ayodhya Ram Mandir Durga Puaj Pandal Santosh Mitra Square”, we found articles from October 2023 sharing similar images of the pandal.
According to the wire.in, The Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojanin Durgotsab committee, known for organizing one of Kolkata’s grandest and most spectacular pujas every year, has promised to create an “Ayodhya-like atmosphere.” This includes life-size idols and 3D illuminations of the Hindu deities Ram and Hanuman, and the recreation of rituals that usually take place on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya. Social media has been flooded with images of the pandal and its decorations.
According to the article in Kolkatta tales.in, Santosh Mitra Square, commonly known as Lebutala Park, which is situated in one of Kolkata’s busiest areas, holds a particular place in the hearts of both residents and visitors. Ayodhya Ram Mandir, the Durga Puja theme for 2023, promises to be nothing less than a visual masterpiece. The delicately created pandal replicates the sacred atmosphere of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, where the divine glory of Lord Rama is revealed.
Several images of the illuminated pandal can be seen in this article.
When we searched for the actual images of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya showing the progress of the construction of the temple, we found a few images showing that the temple is still in the construction phase.
According to Times of India.com, The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has released construction photos, revealing the advanced stage of the project. The idols, currently 90% ready, are undergoing final touches. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ceremony, where Ram Lalla will be installed in its original place under the auspices of the Trust.
An article in News18 shared several images showing the progress of the construction work of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Hence, the viral video does not show the crowd at the illuminated Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, it shows people visiting the Durga Puja Pandal shaped like the Ayodhya Ram Mandir built during the Durga Puja Festival in Kolkatta. The claim is False.
