On 04 September 2025, the Nepal government banned 26 major social media platforms, sparking nationwide youth-led protests that turned violent from 08 September 2025 onwards, leaving at least 25 people dead and 633 injured as demonstrators clashed with security forces and targeted government properties, including the residence of the President. Despite lifting the ban on 09 September 2025, anger persisted, with protesters demanding Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s resignation over corruption and inequality. Oli stepped down the same day along with several ministers. At the same time, the army was deployed to restore order as Nepal grappled with its biggest political and social crisis in recent years, fuelled by high youth unemployment, corruption, and resentment against entrenched elites.
Amidst this, a video is circulating on social media (here, here, and here) claiming to show protesters in Nepal attempting to break the doors of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Several media outlets, including NDTV India and ZEE News, reported the video as being from the September 2025 protests. Let’s verify the claim made in the post in this article.
Claim: The video shows protesters in Nepal trying to break down the doors of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu in September 2025.
Fact: The video does not show protesters attacking the Pashupatinath Temple during the September 2025 protests. It was actually filmed during the Naxal Bhagwati Yatra, part of the Pahan Charhe festival, and had already been posted by Hamro Jatra on 14 July 2025. The platform itself clarified that it is from a cultural procession, not from any protest or attack on the temple. As of the time of writing this article, we also did not find any reports of significant damage to the temple. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
A reverse image search of key frames from the viral video led us to the Hamro Jatra page on Instagram, which uploaded the same video on July 14, 2025, featuring the same content (archived). This confirms that the video predates the September 2025 protests and is unrelated. The post’s caption (translated from Nepali) reads: “Who knows about this procession at Pashupatinath Temple? Which procession and when is it held? Why are you climbing on the door?” The same video was also uploaded on their Facebook page on the same day with the same caption.
Upon reviewing the comments on the Facebook post, we found that the visuals are actually from the Naxal Bhagwati Yatra during the PahanCharhe festival. Hamrojatra.com describes itself as a platform for sharing live videos of Nepal’s culture, festivals, and jatras with audiences around the world.
We also came across a Facebook post where the platform clarified that the video is neither from 09 September 2025 nor related to any protests, but from a festival. The post stated that the footage is from their ‘Paha Chahre Jatra,’ an important festival of the Newar community. There were no attacks or unpleasant incidents, and everyone is safe. The video simply shows a scene from the festival, and the platform urged people not to be scared, confused, or spread misinformation.
The Pashupatinath Temple was closed to visitors on 10 September 2025 due to escalating violence across the country. The Nepalese Army was deployed around the temple premises to ensure security and maintain peace, as protests and clashes continued in various parts of Kathmandu. As of the time of writing this article, we also did not find any reports of significant damage to the temple.
To sum up, an old ritual video from Pashupatinath Temple is being shared as protesters break down the temple doors during the September 2025 Nepal protests
