A photograph of a Durga Puja pandal is widespread on social media. The image shows that a board has been placed outside the pandal that displays the timings of Islamic prayers. Several people have claimed that this pandal is in West Bengal where Hindus were asked to not offer prayers when namaz will be offered.

भद्रलोक बंगाल के दुर्गा पंडाल में आपका स्वागत है, जिसमे खुद भद्रलोक हिंदुओ ने लिख रखा है की इस इस समय के बीच आपको

👉…

Posted by Nitin Shukla नितिन शुक्ला on Friday, 15 October 2021

The image has been shared on both Facebook and Twitter.

Alt News has also received multiple fact-check requests for the image on its WhatsApp helpline number (+91 76000 11160) and mobile application.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Image from Bangladesh

At the bottom of the board are the words “উত্তরা সার্বজনীন পূজা কমিটি” that translate to “Uttara Sarbojonik Puja Committee” which is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The committee also has a website.

A keyword search of the full name of the committee led us to a Facebook live posted by a Bangladeshi page of the same pandal.

 

উত্তরা সার্বজনীন পুজা কমিটি, ঢাকা।

Posted by ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ের পূজা on Thursday, 14 October 2021

The similarities in the pandal seen in the video and the one in the viral image have been pointed below. The stairs, chandelier above the Durga idol and the pillars on both sides of the idol match.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The board with the namaz schedule is also visible in the video.

A Bangladeshi Facebook user wrote that the Uttara Sarbojonik Puja Committee put up the board to prevent music from being played during namaz.

The photo thus shows a Duga Puja pandal in Bangladesh, not West Bengal.

Donate to Alt News!
Independent journalism that speaks truth to power and is free of corporate and political control is possible only when people start contributing towards the same. Please consider donating towards this endeavour to fight fake news and misinformation.

Donate Now

Tagged:
About the Author

Pooja Chaudhuri is a senior editor at Alt News.