Footage shows pilgrimage and race crowd, not rally against Indian court’s Aravalli hills ruling

Protests erupt across India due to a ruling by the nation’s highest court that environmentalists say could open a fragile mountain ecosystem to mining, but clips shared on social media that purportedly show the widespread protests predate the Supreme Court’s decision by several months. The clips indeed show a religious pilgrimage and crowds attending an oxcart race.

“A wave of protests is sweeping across northern India after a Supreme Court ruling defined the Aravalli Hills as those higher than 100 meters, potentially leaving 90% of the range vulnerable to mining,” read an Instagram post shared on December 20, 2025.

“Environmentalists and citizens say it is a ‘death warrant’ for the ancient ecological barrier that stops desertification and purifies Delhi’s air.”

The video includes two clips of large crowds, with the following superimposed text: “Large number of Rajasthani farmers launch protest in Aravalli Hills.”

The video propagated in similar posts on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and

The new definition excludes areas below 100 meters (328 feet) above sea level, which will no longer be protected by mining restrictions (archived link).

While environmentalists have warned this could leave many ecologically vital hills vulnerable to mining and construction, the government says the move standardizes regulations and strengthens protections (archived here and here).

The Supreme Court suspended its own order on December 29, forming an expert panel to investigate the potential repercussions of the new definition (archived link).

The video circulating on social media, however, predates the highest court’s initial decision and does not show demonstrators opposing the change.

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the first falsely shared clip led to the same footage in an Instagram post published on August 2 (archived link). It was published by a Maharashtra-based news portal.

He also posted the footage as part of a longer video on his YouTube channel on July 31 (archived link).

The legend in Marathi language of Instagram video reads: “The palanquin of Gajanan Maharaj left Khamgaon town towards Shegaon.”

The palanquin of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj is an annual spiritual event that sees pilgrims travel 1,275 km (782 miles) over a period of two months (archived link).

AFP had previously denied publications distorting the second excerpt of the falsely shared video.

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the clip led to an Instagram video shared on June 28 (archived link).

Its caption in Marathi language states that the crowd was watching a prize bull during the race.

The AFP has denied similar false claims, wrongly characterizing images of crowds as protests against the Supreme Court ruling.