FACT CHECK: Did PM Modi turn his back on Lord Ganesh at Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh Temple? Check here
Users have shared the photograph with their claims that PM Modi is disrespecting the Hindu God at the temple by turning his back and posing for the camera.
A picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi showing his back to the Hindu deity Ganesha at the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune is going rounds on social media.
Claim
Users have shared this photograph with their claims that PM Modi is disrespecting the Hindu God at the temple by turning his back and posing for the camera. The photograph was additionally shared by Y Satish Reddy, chairman of the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation, and BV Srinivas, national president of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC).
Truth
The picture was taken when the PM was taking a parikrama, or circumambulation (part of Hindu customs), to offer his prayers. We found visuals via social media that match the viral picture and show him turning in rounds in front of the idol. With a significant keyword search on X, we ran across videos of PM Modi taking a parikrama, or circumambulation, in the wake of offering his prayers.
The visuals were shared by a few X users, including Tehseen Poonawala. We contrasted this with the video of PM Modi's visit to the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple in Pune posted by his YouTube channel and observed that they were from a similar visit. Prime Minister Modi likewise shared photographs of his visit on his X account.
Conclusion
The viral picture of PM Modi with folded hands and his back to the Hindu deity has been shared with a misleading claim that he disregarded God by 'turning his back'.