Ayodhya Temple inauguration dhol video is falsely shared as 2025 Shivaji Jayanti celebrations at the Ram Mandir
Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti was celebrated in India on 19 February 2025 (here, here, and here). In this context, a video (here, here and here) has gone viral on social media showing a group of people in uniform chanting bhajans to the rhythm of a band and dhol in front of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The claim suggests that Shivaji Jayanti was celebrated at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in 2025. Let’s find out the truth behind this video.
Claim: The video of dhol performances at Ayodhya Ram Mandir shows Shivaji Jayanti celebrations at the temple.
Fact: The video actually shows a Maharashtrian ‘Puneri Dhol Tasha’ performance from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration celebrations held in January 2024. While Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti was celebrated in various parts of India on 19 February 2025, there are no credible reports confirming its celebration at the temple. Hence, the claim is FALSE.
To find the truth, we performed a reverse image search, which led us to an X post from 25 January 2024, featuring the same video. The caption read: ‘Shivgarjana inside the Ram Mandir premises,’ indicating that the video is not recent.
Further research led us to several YouTube videos of the same event, including the viral clip. ANI, NDTV Profit, and other channels had reported the event on January 25, 2024. One such report was titled ‘Ayodhya Ram Mandir | Goosebumps Performance by Indra Jimi of Pune at Shree Ram Janmbhoomi.‘ Additionally, The Economic Times posted another version of the event, reporting that dhol-tasha players from Pune, Maharashtra, performed at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
Further search led us to several reports (here, here and here) about the event, which was part of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration celebrations that began on 22 January 2024. According to these reports, several programs were held in Ayodhya, and devotees performed with Maharashtrian ‘Puneri Dhol Tasha’ at the newly constructed temple. Additionally, devotees from Pune and other parts of Maharashtra participated in the celebrations, performing with traditional dhols, drums, conch shells, and other musical instruments in front of Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya.
Additionally, Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti was celebrated in various parts of India on 19 February 2025 (here, here and here). However, we could not find any credible reports confirming that Shivaji Jayanti was celebrated at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, and the viral video has no connection to Shivaji Jayanti.
To sum up, the Ayodhya Temple inauguration dhol video was falsely shared as Shivaji Jayanti celebrations at the temple.