Fact Check: Viral Video Of 25,000 Havan Kunds Not From Ayodhya, But From Varanasi

New Delhi (Vishvas News). Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram temple, a video is going viral on social media, where several ‘havan kunds’ can be seen. This video is being shared with the claim that 25,000 ponds will be used during the consecration and inauguration of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Vishvas News in its investigation found the viral claim to be false. The viral video is not of Ayodhya Ram temple, but of Swarved Mahamandir in Varanasi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this temple on December 18.

What Is Going Viral?

Sharing the viral video (archive link), social media user ‘Ram Kunwar Pardaan Ji’ wrote, “Havan will be performed in these 25000 ponds for the consecration and inauguration of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya! Jai Shri Ram “

Many other users on different social media platforms have shared this video with similar claims.

Investigation

To investigate the viral claim, we searched with relevant keywords. We found videos related to the claim uploaded at many places. The image is not from Ayodhya, but from Varanasi. Information related to the video was found on a YouTube channel named ‘Anish Verma’. According to the video uploaded on December 11, 2023, “This is Swarved Mahamandir Dham Umrahan Varanasi.”

During the search, we also found a video uploaded on a YouTube channel named ‘Arun Village Boy Blog’. The video uploaded on December 16, 2023 states, “This is the video of Swarveda Mahamandir Dham Varanasi. Where 25,000 havan kunds have been built.”

Information related to the video was also found on the official YouTube channel of News 24. In the report uploaded on December 11, 2023, it has been described as Swarved Mahamandir.

Other news reports related to the video can be read here. In the news published on Dainik Jagran on December 17, 2023, it was said, “Vihangam Yoga Sant Samaj will start its centenary celebration from today. On this occasion, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first floor of Swarved Mahamandir in Kashi today. On this occasion, devotees from India and abroad will offer sacrifice in 25,000 kundiya mahayagya. It will be inaugurated by Sadhguru Swatantra Deo Maharaj and Sant Pravar Vigyan Deo Maharaj by hoisting the white flag with ‘A’ written on it.”

Next we searched for reports about Ayodhya. The news published on Dainik Jagran on January 4, 2024 states, “The construction of ponds started from Wednesday for the ritual of consecration of the idol of God in the grand building at Ram Janmabhoomi. The construction of the pond has started under the direction of Pandit Dattatreya Narayan Ratate, an expert in pond construction. A total of nine ponds will be made for the rituals. The construction of these ponds has started in the shape of two by two. All the ponds will be of different types.”

For more information about this, we contacted Avinash Kumar, media in-charge of Vihangam Yoga Sant Samaj. He said, “They have also received information about such videos. People are doing this for their TRP. But this video is of Swarved Mahamandir Dham. It has the flag marked ‘A’ of Vihangam Yoga Sant Samaj.”

We also shared the video with Ramasharan Awasthi, editorial in-charge of Dainik Jagran in Ayodhya. He said, “The viral claim is false. The video is not from here.”

Fact check reports related to fake and misleading stories related to Ayodhya can be read here.

Finally, we scanned the account of the user who shared the video with the false claim. We found that the user is from Panaji, Goa. The user has 5,000 friends on Facebook.

Conclusion: Vishvas News found in its investigation that the viral claim regarding 25,000 havan kunds in Ayodhya is false. The video is not of Ayodhya, but of Swarved Mahamandir in Varanasi. 25,000 Kundiya Mahayagya was performed here on December 17-18, 2023. The video is being shared virally with the false claim that it is of Ayodhya Ram temple.

Tags

• Ayodhya
• Ayodhya Ram Temple
• Ram Mandir