Video of Ayyappa devotees singing Vavar song shared with false communal spin accusing Kerala government
Claim
Consequences of appointments of Muslims and Christians to the posts of “temple priests” by the Congress-backed government in Kerala
Rating
Explanation
A video purportedly showing the Hindu devotees singing an Islamic song is shared by BJP supporters mentioning it as a consequence of appointing Muslims and Christians to the posts of “temple priests” by the Congress-backed government in Kerala. Some of the posts with such a claim can be seen here and here.
https://twitter.com/manojku_82/status/1637494273854828544?s=46&t=kIszbQH_arRSG8kPbuGeZw
The viral posts in Hindi read as “केरल में कांग्रेस समर्थित सरकार द्वारा मुस्लिम व ईसाईयो को “मंदिरों में पुजारी” के पद परनियुक्तियों का नतीजा”.
What is the truth?
When reverse-searching the keyframes of the video and searching with relevant keywords we found that it is an old video of Ayyappa devotees singing ‘Vavar’ songs in Andhra Pradesh.
A Youtube channel named ‘SBR News1 SBR News1’ uploaded the extended version of the viral video in July 2019. The video is titled “La ilaha illallah ayyappa swamula songs SBR news1”. The viral video part is followed by Lord Ayyappa songs in the Telugu language in the extended video. And visuals of 18 steps decorated as per the rituals of padi (steps) puja for Ayyappa can also be seen in the video.
Another video from the same occasion with multiple Ayyappa devotional songs in Telugu is shared by a Youtube channel ‘Malli Photography’ in November 2017 mentioning it as ‘Ayyapaswami padi (steps) puja’ in Chalsani Gardens. Chalsani Gardens is a convention centre located in Andhra Pradesh.
A Youtube short video shows the Hindu devotees in the ‘Vavar’ mosque exactly opposite the entrance of Sabarimala Ayyappaswami temple in Erumely. This video is played with the same ‘Vavar Mohammad Rasool Allah’ song from the viral video. Vavar is said as a Muslim friend of Sabarimala’s presiding deity Ayyappa and a mosque for Vavar is located in Erumely.
Another video of a Hindu ritual performed in Kerala with the usual Islamic prayer is falsely claimed that the Kerala government appointed Muslim and Christian priests in Hindu temples. Youturn fact-checked and published an article on the same.
Conclusion
It is found that a video of Lord Ayyappa devotees singing a song praising ‘Vavar’ in Andhra Pradesh during a padi puja is shared to falsely claim as the consequence of appointing Muslims and Christians to the posts of “temple priests” by the Kerala government.
