The lens does not show fireworks on the last day of Kumbh Mela

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The lens does not show fireworks on the last day of Kumbh Mela

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When Kumbh Mela of India ended on February 26, 2025, the fireworks footage and laser performance posted in social media posts erroneously claimed it showed the last day of the Indian music festival. The clip has gradually gained thousands of views, but it predates the gathering several months ago and depicts another celebration on the banks of the Ganges in the northern city of the northern city Varanasi.

“Maha Kumbh is over and will never come again now.” explain Hindi X Post February Share 26.

It includes a videotape, playing the show of people on board watching the sky full of fireworks and laser lights. The Hindi text overlay says: “First and last maha kumbh Life. ”

<span>Screenshot of the screenshot was taken on March 3, 2025</span>” loading=”lazy” width=”540″ height=”766″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” style=”color:transparent” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/A9ElVjJ2BqhingIx9t5XPQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEzNjI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/afp_factcheck_us_713/cddee9527767eac5aa6eaabeaaad86ce”/></div><figcaption class=

video spread Elsewhere on Facebook and Instagram is the six-week Hindu religious gathering (released link) wrapped in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The organizers said thousands of devotees attended the party.

Comments by social media users “celebrating the conclusion ceremony” show that they believe in claims about fireworks and laser shows.

However, using the key frame in the clip for reverse image search, another photography Instagram account posted on November 15, 2024 (Archive link).

<span>Screenshot Comparison of shared videos in error posts (L) and original videos posted on Instagram</span>” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”457″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” style=”color:transparent” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/K6P_bM95t0MMbz_gVfyM9w–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ1Nw–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/afp_factcheck_us_713/c7c791fe4bf56c3490437253f54014fe”/><button aria-label= — Comparison of screenshots of fake posts (L) and videos shared in original videos on Instagram

AFP Contacted the Instagram handle managed by Ankit Dixit, who confirmed the video was shot in Varanasi in November 2024.

“I shot the video at the Dev Deepawali celebration on the banks of the Varanasi River and posted it on my social media platform that night,” Dixit told AFP on March 3. Quote to another Indian music festival (archive link).

Indian news agency ANI also shared a glimpse of the celebration in a post X (archive link) on November 15, 2024.

AFP is at Coom Mela's conclusion ceremony, although drones illuminate the sky with more than a few times event.

State Broadcasting Corporation DD News reported that the Indian Air Force “signs the end of the 45-day celebration in the Mera area” (Archive link).

AFP conducted a fact-check on Kumbh Mela here.