Old and unrelated video shared as people throwing slippers at Army in Maha Kumbh Mela

The viral video dates back to November 2024 and is not related to the ongoing Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela.

Kumbh Mela is an important Hindu pilgrimage, celebrated approximately every 6, 12, and 144 years, correlated with the partial or full revolution of Jupiter and representing the largest human gathering in the world. Mahakumbh Mela 2025 officially commenced on 13 January, 2025 continuing until 26 February, 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. 

Against this backdrop, a video showing a large crowd hurling slippers at army officials and other security people stationed behind a barricade has gone viral on social media. The users who share the post claims that it depicts the crowd at the Maha Kumbh Mela misbehaving with the Army officers guarding them.

Let’s check the truth

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Fact Check- 

We started our investigation with a reverse image search on google and the results led us to an Instagram post featuring an extended version of the viral video. It was uploaded on 17 November, 2024 with the caption describing that it is from the launch of Pushpa 2 trailer in Patna, Bihar.

Using this hint, we looked into more details and found many reports regarding this event. We came across a longer video published on YouTube by a channel named Showsha with the title “Pushpa 2: Fans In Patna Create Chaos, Climb Electric Poles; Police Resort To Lathi Charge”.

All these evidences indicates that the viral video predates the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and not related to it.

Moving forward, we found an article published in Times of India, with the caption, “Chaos at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during trailer launch of ‘Pushpa 2’, lathi charge at fans. Chaos erupted in Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, where a massive crowd turned up to catch a glimpse of actors Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandana who were in the city for the trailer launch event of their upcoming film ‘Pushpa 2’. A section of the people who gathered at the venue crossed barricades and hurled shoes and slippers when they were prevented from going close to the stars. The event continued till late night.

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The trailer of the Telugu film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, was launched in the iconic Gandhi Maidan on 17 November 2024. The event was attended by the film’s stars – Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna – and over 10,000 screaming fans.

Based on these evidences, we can understand that the viral video is old and not related to the Prayagraj Mahakumbh. 

Conclusion- 

Fact crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be Misleading. The viral video is from the trailer launch of the Telugu movie Pushpa 2 in Patna, Bihar, it dates back to November 2024. It has no link to Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela