FACT-CHECK: Was Hindu deity Ram's image displayed on Burj Khalifa?
Image showed illuminated Burj Khalifa with Hindu deity Ram dressed as a sage and 'Jai Shri Ram' written on top
January 23, 2024
As thousands of fanatic Hindus celebrated the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir, built on the site of the razed Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, a viral image circulated on social media depicting the deity Ram on Dubai's Burj Khalifa, sparking a significant online debate.
The image, showing an illuminated Burj Khalifa with Hindi god Ram dressed as a sage and 'Jai Shri Ram' written on top, garnered over two million views.
Numerous individuals shared the photo, claiming its authenticity, while others questioned its legitimacy. Users expressed awe and debated whether the image was edited or real.
However, a reverse image search on Google revealed that the Burj Khalifa was captured in a similar light but without any projection of Ram.
Despite claims that it was not photoshopped but digitally altered, the fact-check revealed the image to be a fabrication. The Burj Khalifa's official social media accounts, where celebratory occasions are typically shared, showed no posts of such projections.
This incident mirrored a similar occurrence in April 2023, where a viral image turned out to be fake. Meanwhile, the doors of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir opened to the public a day after the consecration, attracting a large number of devotees.
