logo
Footage does not show fireworks on last day of Kumbh Mela

Footage does not show fireworks on last day of Kumbh Mela

Yahoo06-03-2025
"Maha Kumbh ends, now this moment will never come again in life," says a Hindi-language X post shared February 26.
It includes a video of people in boats watching the sky lit up with fireworks and a laser light show. A Hindi text overlay reads: "First and last Maha Kumbh of life."
The video spread elsewhere on Facebook and Instagram as the six-week Hindu religious gathering wrapped up in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (archived link). Organizers say hundreds of millions of devotees attended the gathering.
Comments from social media users "hailing the concluding ceremony" suggest they believed the claim about a fireworks and laser show.
However, reverse image searches using keyframes from the clip found another video that a photography Instagram account posted November 15, 2024 (archived link).
AFP contacted the Instagram handle managed by Ankit Dixit, who confirmed the video was filmed in Varanasi in November 2024.
"I filmed the video during Dev Deepawali celebration on banks of river Ganga in Varanasi and published it the same night on my social media platforms," Dixit told AFP on March 3, referring to another Hindu festival (archived link).
Indian news agency ANI also shared glimpses from the celebration in a November 15, 2024 X post (archived link).
AFP found no such reports about fireworks at the Kumbh Mela's concluding ceremony, although drones lit up the sky on more than one occasion during the event.
State broadcaster DD News reported an air show conducted by the Indian Air Force "over the mela area marked the end of the 45-day celebration" (archived link).
AFP has fact-checked other misinformation about the Kumbh Mela here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Shaq offers cruel two-word dismissal of Klay Thompson-Megan Thee Stallion relationship
Shaq offers cruel two-word dismissal of Klay Thompson-Megan Thee Stallion relationship

New York Post

time18 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Shaq offers cruel two-word dismissal of Klay Thompson-Megan Thee Stallion relationship

Shaquille O'Neal isn't shipping the Klay Thompson-Megan Thee Stallion love story after the couple recently went public with their relationship. During Monday's installment of 'The Big Podcast with Shaq,' the retired Basketball Hall of Famer predicted that the romance between the Mavericks guard and the Grammy-winning rapper has a six-week shelf life. When his co-host Adam Lefkoe brought up the new NBA couple, O'Neal said, 'six weeks.' Advertisement 4 Shaq weighs in on Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion's romance during the latest installment of his podcast. YouTube/The Big Podcast with Shaq O'Neal repeated it a few times and shook his head 'no' when asked by co-host Adam Lefkoe if he believed the relationship would survive into the fall. Mike Tyson, who was a guest on the podcast, asked, 'Who's Klay Thompson?' which drew laughter from the live audience laugh. Advertisement O'Neal didn't elaborate further. Thompson, 35, and Megan, 30, went public with their new relationship earlier this month. The 'Hiss' rapper posted a carousel of bikini snapshots as Thompson was seen lounging by the pool in the background during their recent vacation. 4 Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson making their red carpet debut at Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala on July 16, 2025 in New York City. GC Images Advertisement 4 Megan Thee Stallion appeared to include Mavericks guard Klay Thompson in the background of her bikini photo shoot on Instagram on July 9, 2025. Instagram/Megan Thee Stallion After that, the couple wasn't shy about flaunting PDA together on multiple occasions, including on the red carpet and at the gym. Meg and Thompson made their red carpet debut at Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City on Wednesday. 4 Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson making their red carpet debut at Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala on July 16, 2025 in New York City. Johns PKI / Advertisement The rapper also shared a video of them working out together and recently gushed that he's the nicest man she's ever dated. Meg, who is a native of Houston, will likely be sitting courtside in Dallas this season. The four-time NBA champ is entering his second season with the Mavericks after winning four titles with the Warriors across 13 seasons.

Gen Z History Buff Stunned To Find Wartime Message in Jane Austen Novel
Gen Z History Buff Stunned To Find Wartime Message in Jane Austen Novel

Newsweek

timean hour ago

  • Newsweek

Gen Z History Buff Stunned To Find Wartime Message in Jane Austen Novel

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 26-year-old history enthusiast's unique find has sparked a wave of online fascination after she showed off the World War I-era message she discovered tucked inside a book. Meg, from the U.K., who would prefer to keep her full name private, had shared the worn edition of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice to Instagram on November 10, 2024. She flipped open the front page to show two poignant handwritten notes. One was addressed to the recipient of the gift and was signed off, "with love, from Eyre, Christmas 1915." The second, written below in a different hand, adds a somber footnote: "Eyre was reported missing on the Battle of Somme." The short clip, posted under @historywithmegs, has been liked almost 100,000 times to date. The discovery—likely missed by countless hands that handled the book over the decades—has captivated viewers, many commenting in awe at the glimpse into a personal story from a war now more than a century past. "I was actually shown the copy by one of my colleagues at my old place of work, Bookends bookshop in Carlisle, England," Meg told Newsweek. "The store is run alongside Bookcase, an antiquarian and secondhand bookshop, and we would often marvel at the many treasures held there during quiet times or on our breaks. Meg looks into the camera lens, left, and shares the inside of the book with viewers, right. Meg looks into the camera lens, left, and shares the inside of the book with viewers, right. @historywithmegs "I believe it had come into the store either through a donated collection, or as stock bought at an estate sale or auction," Meg said. Her video struck a chord with her audience, many of whom expressed admiration for the simple act of love preserved in the fragile pages of the book. In her caption, Meg wrote: "Lest we forget … This amazing little piece of social history has survived over 100 years and two world wars and continues to speak of kindness and humanity in its legacy … Today is an important time to reflect, remember and commemorate." Meg's caption, paired with the emotional nature of the find, helped the video resonate widely, turning the artifact into a symbol of remembrance ahead of Veterans Day. "It has been amazing to see the way that people online have connected with the post and the story behind the book," Meg said. "I think it is wonderful that this simple act of kindness, the Christmas gift of a book, is still inspiring people and touching lives over a hundred years later." Meg poses inside two British historical attractions. Meg poses inside two British historical attractions. @historywithmegs For Meg, the find is more than a moment of historical curiosity—it is a personal tribute to the humanity behind the war and the young lives lost. "Of course, the poignant inscription, referencing the fact that Eyre was declared missing in action at the Battle of the Somme, adds a whole new dimension, too," she said. "I hope that, by sharing the book on social media, I have contributed in some small way to preserving Eyre's legacy of kindness." The Battle of the Somme, which began in July 1916, remains one of the bloodiest campaigns in British military history, with more than 1 million men wounded or killed over the course of the monthslong offensive. The brief message in the book—spared by time and fate—offers a rare and intimate window into the individual stories lost in the scale of war. "As the First World War becomes evermore distant, it is incredibly important that we remember the lives of young people like Eyre who were involved in the conflict," Meg said. "Eyre was not just a soldier; he was a human being, with his own dreams and loves and hopes. "I think that this little book does a beautiful job of reflecting this," the finder added.

Retriever and German Shepherd Have Puppies, Viewers Not Prepared for Result
Retriever and German Shepherd Have Puppies, Viewers Not Prepared for Result

Newsweek

timean hour ago

  • Newsweek

Retriever and German Shepherd Have Puppies, Viewers Not Prepared for Result

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new mutt is taking over Instagram. The internet is abuzz with a dog owner's introduction of a litter of puppies described as "Golden Shepherds"—a cross between a German shepherd mother and a golden retriever father. An Instagram reel showcasing the charming pups has quickly gained traction, sparking both adoration and debate among dog owners. "Mom was a German Shepherd. Dad was a golden retriever. These are a perfect combination of loyal, alert, protective and sweet," the creator wrote in the video. "Meet our 'Golden Shepherd': loyal like a German Shepherd, loving like a golden retriever. You get the fluff, the smarts and the snuggles in one perfect package." A person holds a German shepherd puppy outside. A person holds a German shepherd puppy video's comments section quickly filled with an outpouring of affection and shared experiences. Many users praised the apparent benefits of this mix. "That's gotta be the best mix ever," one person wrote. "Loving and derpy like goldens but smart and trainable like shepherds!" Another proud owner shared their positive experience: "We have a 'Golden Shepherd'! She is the most amazing dog. Rosie and her litter mates were accidents … She is the absolute best dog in the world." The sentiment for German shepherd mixes in general was strong, with another comment saying that they are "the best." "Had a German Shepherd husky mix and later a German Shepherd collie mix growing up," the viewer wrote. "They were both such lovely sweet and caring dogs." The Breeding Debate While largely lighthearted, the discussion also veered into some debate surrounding designer breeds versus mutts. Some users were critical of the "breed" designation for a mixed-breed dog, with one commenter saying: "Breed? This is a MUTT. Stop purposefully breeding dogs and calling them their own breeds. Adopt don't shop, anyone breeding dogs like this should be ashamed of themselves." "Glad they are rescues," another wrote. "But humans being disgusting and greedy as they are, I can see someone intentionally seeking out a designer mutt." The comments reflect a broader conversation within the pet community about responsible breeding practices and the importance of animal adoption. "[Public Service Announcement]: Please never purchase one of these from a breeder," another commenter posted. "Even an 'accidental litter.' Only buy cross breeds from shelters or people passing them on. Never buy mutts." And, of course, the practical side of owning such a fluffy mix wasn't overlooked. A funny comment pointed to a likely consequence of combining two notoriously shedding breeds: "The breed was engineered by vacuum cleaner companies," the viewer wrote. Newsweek reached out to @lifewithgoldenshepherds for comment via Instagram.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store