Fact Check: Old Video Of Lucknow Mall’s Decoration For Dussehra Going Viral With Misleading Claims

New Delhi Vishvas News – During festivals, malls and restaurants are frequently decorated to create a festive atmosphere, and the same stands true for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Recently, a video has been circulating on social media, alleging that a mall has deviated from the customary Christmas tree adornment and instead opted for a grand statue of Lord Ram.

Upon investigation, Vishvas News discovered that the viral claim was misleading. The video is not a recent occurrence but dates back approximately two months. It captures the decoration carried out during the celebration of Dussehra at the “Fun Republic” Mall in Lucknow.

What’s Going Viral?

While sharing the viral video on December 25, 2023, the Facebook user wrote in the caption, “Amazing change… Jayatu Sanatan… The malls which were decorated with Christmas trees on December 25, are now decorated with the grand statue of Lord Ram Ji, really our country is changing.”

Investigation:

Upon examining the viral video, it was observed that the word “Diwali” is inscribed beneath the idols, raising suspicions about its timeliness. Taking the investigation further, we extracted several keyframes from the video and conducted a reverse image search using Google. The viral video was traced back to a YouTube channel named “Travelogue,” where it was uploaded on October 30, 2023. Further details revealed that the video originated from the “Fun Republic” Mall in Lucknow.

Further inquiry using relevant keywords on Google led us to the Instagram page of “Fun Republic” Mall in Lucknow. The video in question was shared on November 25. A thorough examination of the page unveiled numerous pictures and videos related to decorations posted in November and October. Notably, a video connected to the same decoration was shared on October 23, 2023, with a caption indicating its association with the celebration of Dussehra.

To corroborate our findings, we reached out to Rajeev Bajpai, Chief Reporter at Dainik Jagran Lucknow, sharing the viral video with him. Bajpai confirmed, “The viral video is approximately two months old and pertains to the decoration carried out at ‘Fun Republic’ Mall in Lucknow during the celebration of Dussehra.”

Finally, we scrutinised the account of the user who shared the video with the misleading claim and noted that the user frequently shares posts aligned with a particular ideology.