Viral ‘Maha Kumbh Mela’ Video—Truth Unveiled from Varanasi?

Claim

A viral video is getting circulated on social media. The user is claiming it to be from Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj.

Screenshot of a viral Facebook post by 'Bhakti Bhakti' featuring a nighttime scene of fireworks over a river, with multiple boats carrying people dressed in traditional attire. The post, dated February 26, claims the event marks the grand conclusion of the 'Mahanadiya Maha Kumbh Mela.' However, the visuals are likely from Dev Deepawali 2024 in Varanasi, not Maha Kumbh Mela.

User has shared the video with caption: “A joyous conclusion of the great human Maha Kumbh of the divine, grand, wonderful, unique world….”

Fact Check

To check the authenticity of the viral claim, the DFRAC conducted a reverse image search of a keyframe from the video. This led us to many results showing videos claiming to be from Maha Kumbh Mela.

On thorough investigation, we got to the results which were showing to be from Dev Deepawali 2024 from Banaras. We watched the video and it was the same as that of the viral claim.

This video was uploaded on social media on 17 November 2024. So, this clearly shows that the visuals are older than claimed in the viral video.

Screenshot of an Instagram post by user 'iamprince9311,' dated November 17, 2024, showing a nighttime scene from Dev Deepawali celebrations in Varanasi (Kashi/Banaras). The image features fireworks lighting up the sky over the Ganges River, with people gathered on boats to witness the spectacle. The caption confirms the event as Dev Diwali, debunking false claims linking similar visuals to the Maha Kumbh Mela.

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Another user on social media has shared that video with exact visual on 16 November with title saying Banaras dev dipwali, and has incorporated emoticons and hashtags.

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The viral video uploaded on 26 February 2025, which claims to be marking the conclusion of Maha Kumbh.

Comparison of a misleading social media claim and the original post. On the left, a Facebook post dated February 26 falsely claims a fireworks event is from the Maha Kumbh Mela. On the right, an Instagram post dated November 17, 2024, confirms the video is from Dev Deepawali celebrations in Varanasi. The image, created by DFRAC, highlights the misinformation by showing timestamps and event details.

To check the veracity of Dev Deepawali 2024, we did a keyword search – Dev Diwali 2024 Varanasi – on it. It showed results which confirmed that such an event had occurred on 15 November 2024 in Varanasi, marking the God’s descent to the Ganga ghats at Varanasi and aarti for the Ganga River.

A screenshot from NativePlanet's Hindi article about Dev Deepawali celebrations in Varanasi, published on November 16, 2024. The headline describes the grand lighting of millions of diyas on the ghats of the Ganges and a spectacular fireworks display. The article highlights the cultural and religious significance of Dev Deepawali and mentions the large number of tourists attending the event.

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Multiple news outlets have reported on Dev Deepawali 2024 in Varanasi. News outlet, Native Planet, has stated in its report, dated 16 November 2024, that more than a hundred thousand earthen lambs accentuated the beauty of the ghats of the river Ganga.

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A social media post has also highlighted the display of fireworks along with a laserlight show. As shown in this post.

A screenshot from Moneycontrol Hindi's Facebook post on November 15, 2024, featuring a video of the grand fireworks display at Varanasi's Lalita Ghat during Dev Deepawali celebrations. The post includes hashtags like #Varanasi, #Diwali2024, #Kashi, and #Moneycontrol, emphasizing the cultural significance of the event. The video, sourced from ANI, showcases illuminated boats and synchronized fireworks over the Ganges.

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A news outlet’s social media handle posted visuals from the Dev Diwali at Varanasi on 15 November 2024. Here is the link to the post.

Conclusion

The fact check by DFRAC reveals that the viral video is misleading, as the original video is from Dev Deepavali 2024, which happened in Varanasi at the ghats of the Ganges river.

This viral video is not from the event marking the conclusion of Maha Kumbh.