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The exhibition of the Tooth Relic, titled as ‘Sri Dalada Vandanawa’, which is held after 16 years, began on April 18th and is scheduled to be held for 10 days at the Sri Dalada Maligawa Premises (Temple of Tooth, Kandy). Accordingly, today (22) marks the fifth day of ‘Sri Dalada Vandanawa’.
Since the ‘Sri Dalada Vandanawa’ started, we noticed many social media posts widely being shared across various platforms, claiming to be photos of the Tooth Relic. Since various opinions are being shared regarding this matter, we conducted a fact check to determine whether these videos and photos are actual footages of the Tooth Relic.
Social Media:
Claim 01 :
A video was posted on social media stating,
“The doors to the heaven rarely open…..It is extremely rare for someone to receive such merit – a replica of the Buddha”.
(“දෙව්ලොවට දොරටු විවර වෙන්නේ කලාතුරකින්…. මේ වගේ පිණක් ලැබෙන්නේ අතිශය කලාතුරකින් කෙනෙකුට – දලදා වහන්සේගේ අනුරුවකී” )
This video clip was also widely shared on YouTube with the caption “This is the final casket, isn’t it? The Tooth Relic is inside this”
(“ මේ අවසාන කරඬුව නේද? මේ ඇතුලෙනෙ දන්ත ධාතූන් වහන්සේ වැඩ ඉන්නවා”)
It was shared through TikTok as well.
Another similar video was shared through Facebook as well.
Fact Check:
Claim 01:
Today (22) marks the fifth day of the exhibition of the Tooth Relic at the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy and we investigated whether any real photographs or video footages of the Tooth Relic has been released to the media during these four days.
However, we couldn’t see such photo or video released to the media.
Likewise, no photos or videos of the Tooth Relic were posted on the official Facebook page of the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Accordingly, on April 19th, an inquiry was made to Venerable Pada Amunugama Sri Vipassi Thero, who is also in charge of the Lankathilaka Rajamaha Viharaya and the Sacred pooja and rituals at the Temple of the Tooth, and to the media division of the Temple of the Tooth, to confirm whether it is a true video vision of the Tooth Relic.
Accordingly, both parties confirmed to us that the video is not showcasing the sacred Tooth Relic and thus is a fake video.
We further examined the alleged visions of the Tooth Relic shown in this video and found that the footage that appears to be the Tooth Relic shown in the last part of the video had been shared on social media more than a month ago. It was a video posted on a TikTok account on March 7th, and it indicates that it is a replica of the Tooth Relic. Archived.
We also saw that the TikTok account owner in question had posted an explanation on his account regarding the misleading interpretations being shared of his video these days.
Also, many people were misled into believing that this video was true because the sequence of scenes shown in the first part of the above video included a foreigner as well, which was created using a real background similar to the scenes of the Temple of Tooth.
Social Media posts:
Claim 02:
Another video was circulating claiming to be the Tooth Relic with the caption, “Let us pay homage to the noble Tooth Relic”. (“උතුම් වූ දන්ත ධාතූන් වහන්සේලාට අපගේ නමස්කාරය වේවා”)
If you examine this video carefully, you can notice that it indicates, “Replica Tooth Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha”. Therefore, this is not the Tooth Relic at the Temple of Tooth, Kandy, but a replica of Shakayamuni Buddha.
However, we checked this video via Google Reverse Search Image and it was confirmed that this footage is from an event named ‘The Veneration of Buddha Tooth Replica Relics’ at the Buddhist Centre ‘Waki Relic Museum’ in Malaysia. (Fb)
The video and photos related to the program were posted on May 18, 2024.
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Accordingly, it is confirmed that this video is not a footage of the Tooth Relic at the Temple of Tooth, Kandy.
We also asked someone who participated in the recent exhibition of the Tooth Relic about the background and how it is displayed, and he also said that the way the Tooth Relic is displayed is different from these occasions.
Social Media post:
Claim 03:
A photograph was posted by a person stating that it was taken on 18.04.2025 at the Tooth Relic exhibition.
This note was published along with that post.
“May the eyes of the devotees behold the wondrous sight of the Supreme Left Tooth, which has been touched by a hundred thousand fragrant Dharmaskanda, placed in the exquisitely decorated display case outside the great fragrant chamber” . True Image) (Original Copyright) 2025/04/18
“All credits to the original owner”
(“සුවාසූ දහසක් ධර්මස්කන්දය ස්පර්ශ වූ උත්තරීතර වාම දළදාව උතුම් වූ සුගන්ධ කුටියෙන් පිටත අත්‍යාලංකෘත ප්‍රදර්ශන කුටියෙහි වැඩ හිදින අපූර්ව දසුන පිං කල දෙනෙත් දැකබලා ගනිත්වා . සත්‍ය ජායාරූපය) (මුල් අයිතිය) 2025/04/18
සියලු ගෞරවය සහ පින මුල් අයිතිකරුට”)
Fact check :
Accordingly, we investigated whether the photograph purporting to be taken by someone who has visited the Tooth Relic Exhibition on the 18th was a true photograph.
In this regard, the police issued a special statment on 20th.
It states that devotees participating at the exhibition are not permitted to keep their mobile phones active or take photographs of the Tooth Relic.
Despite these restrictions, this photograph is being circulated, and therefore investigations have been initiated to uncover whether this photo was taken during the exhibition, and if so who took it or whether it is an edited photo.
Police Media Spokesperson Buddhika Manatunga also made a statement to the media regarding this matter.
We examined the background of the photo circulating on social media and the photos posted on the official Facebook page of the Temple of Tooth, related to the ‘Dalada Dakma’.
| The photograph of the lotus seat prepared by the Temple of the Tooth to enshrine the Tooth Relic (Fb |Archive) | The background of the photo circulating on social media |
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Accordingly, when paying attention to the background decorations here, a certain similarity can be seen in the backgrounds in both photographs.
However, we have contacted the Temple of the Tooth Relic to confirm this and we hope to update this article as soon as we receive a response.
How the Tooth Relic is displayed.
Neranjan Wijayaratne, who served as the 18th Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of Tooth, has expressed his views to BBC Sinhala regarding the manner in which the Tooth Relic is displayed. His views are as follows.
“The sacred Tooth Relic is taken outside and is placed in a glass case. You can view the Tooth Relic only through the glass case.”
“The Tooth Relic resides in seven caskets in the palace of Temple of Tooth. These seven caskets contain the offerings offered by past Kings and the public. All of them are removed after documentation and the 7 caskets are opened with three keys, which are in possession of Diyawadana Nilame, and the Malawathu- Asgiri Thero. Those three keys are the only ones that can open the 7 caskets. No one can open it alone. All three must come together, and the ritual is performed with the consent of all three.”
Is it possible to take photos or videos during the exhibition?
The Media Office of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic had issued the following public awareness regarding the taking of photographs or video recordings during the exhibition of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It was posted on the official Facebook page of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in response to frequently asked questions from the public regarding the viewing of the Tooth Relic.
Accordingly, the Temple of the Tooth has stated that while photographs or videos can be taken outside the premises of the Temple of the Tooth, they are not permitted inside the Temple. They have stated that all mobile phones must be switched off when entering through the main entrance.
Dalada Dakma
‘Dalada Dakama’ is held from April 18th to 27th.
Accordingly, the Dalada Dakma was planned to be held on April 18th from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and from 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm from the 19th to the 27th.
However, due to the increase in the number of devotees coming to Kandy from all over the island, the Temple of Tooth has announced to the public that the timing of the Sri Dalada Vandanawa has been revised. Accordingly, the timing has been extended by one hour.
The revised time is from 11.00 am to 5.30 pm.
Sri Lankans get to experience this exhibition of the Tooth Relic, under the request of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, after 16 years.
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Conclusion :
Accordingly, it is confirmed that the two videos that we have examined are not footages of the Tooth Relic enshrined at the Temple of Tooth.
It is necessary to verify with the Temple of the Tooth whether the photograph circulated on social media, which is said to have been taken during the exhibition, is authentic, and we hope to update this article as soon as we receive information in this regard from the Temple of the Tooth’s media department. The police are also conducting an investigation into this photo.
Title:Are the social media videos showing the real Tooth Relic enshrined in the Temple of Tooth in Kandy?
Fact Check By: Factcrescendo TeamResult: Misleading
