Fact Check: Rajasthan farmers gather to save Aravali Hills? No, videos are old

In this context, two video clips showing huge crowds are circulating on social media.

Sharing the video on Instagram, a user wrote, “A wave of protests is sweeping North India after a Supreme Court ruling defined Aravalli hills as only those over 100 meters, potentially leaving 90% of the range vulnerable to mining. Environmentalists and citizens argue this is a "death warrant" for the ancient ecological barrier that stops desertification and cleans Delhi's air. The #SaveAravalli movement demands all hills be protected.” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the viral claim is false. Both video clips are unrelated and old.

Using reverse image search of the video’s key frames, we found the same video shared on Instagram on August 2. The caption states, “Gajanan Maharaj’s palanquin leaves towards Shegaon from Khamgaon city”.

The video was shared by a user called ‘divyavarhad_’.

A link to a YouTube channel was shared in the Instagram bio. In the channel, we found a longer video including drone footage uploaded on July 31. The title reads, ‘Lakhs of devotees march with the palanquin, Shri’s palanquin returns home..#divyavarhad #shegaon.’

Comparison of screenshots from the second video clip and the YouTube video can be found below.

Another Instagram account shared the video with the caption, “Pedgaon Hindkesari Ground 2025. Mathur 1001, the heartbeat of millions of hearts”.

According to the website, Bailgada Premi, Mathur 1001 is a distinguished Khillar Mysore crossbreed owned by Rahul Patil of Adwali, Kalyan. Known as ‘The Unrivalled King,’ Mathur has established himself as a champion racer, securing victories in prestigious competitions including the Bharat Kesari and Maharashtra Kesari races.

Pedgaon, Maharashtra, served as the host venue for the Hind Kesari Bullock Cart races in 2025. Google Maps features a collection of images and videos documenting these traditional bullock cart competitions.

Notably, a video uploaded in June 2023 displays an identical background to that seen in the viral video, providing visual confirmation of the location’s consistency as a racing venue.