Video From Dussehra Event In Andhra Falsely Peddled As Dalit Groom Being Forced Off Horse By Upper-Caste Men

A video has gone viral on social media showing a young man in a turban being forced off a horse by a group of people. It is being circulated with the claim that upper-caste men stopped a Dalit groom’s wedding procession and dragged him down from the horse.

Evidence

Video traced to 2025 Maddikera horse race

Google Lens searches of keyframes led to posts from October 2025, where the video was described as a fight during a Dussehra horse race in Maddikera. Maddikera is a village located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

A higher-quality version was found on YouTube channel VENU Film Factory, uploaded on October 3 with hashtags “Maddikera”, “horse racing”, “fight”, and “Dussehra”.

Longer videos show no wedding procession

Another video posted by the same channel on October 2 shows several riders entering Maddikera with garlands, drums and cymbals.

The same young man from the viral clip appears here too. As he arrives, a heated argument breaks out and he removes his own turban and garland. No wedding ceremony appears in any version of the footage.

These videos were also uploaded on Facebook and Instagram by the same creator, Venu Ta RRock.

Creator confirms it was a race, not a wedding

Newschecker contacted Venu, who shot the video. He confirmed that the video is not related to any wedding. He explained that it was recorded during an annual Dussehra horse race held in Maddikera, where a dispute erupted between two groups over first and second place in the race. Venu added that the footage was shot by him in the main market area of Maddikera, and that he owns the YouTube channel VENU Film Factory where the videos were uploaded.

He further explained that the race is an annual tradition in the village involving three families from the Yadav community, covering a distance of approximately three kilometers. According to him, the argument seen in the viral video was part of a dispute between two participating families.

We also found several similar videos on Venu’s YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Instagram handle related to the Maddikera Dussehra horse race. These videos have been posted across multiple years, as can be seen here, here, and here.

Police refute the viral claim

Maddikera Police Station SHO Vijay denied the viral caste-based claim and clarified that the video was from the traditional Dussehra horse race. He said that the issue seen in the video was a brief dispute between two families who are actually brothers, both belonging to the Yadav community, and that the matter was settled amicably by elders.

Local media reports support Dussehra race event

A search for media reports on the incident led us to Telugu-language coverage. ETV Andhra Pradesh reported on the horse-racing events held as part of the Dussehra celebrations in Maddikera.

Reports by ABN Telugu (September 29, 2025) and RTV Kurnool (October 13, 2024) also covered the event.

Additionally, multiple YouTube and Facebook posts from 2021, 2022, 2023 also feature similar horse race videos from Maddikera.

A Hans India report dated Oct 1, 2025 explains that this event is part of a centuries-old royal tradition called Paruveta, celebrated by Yadava royal descendants.

Also Read: Old Video From Jaipur Revived As Protest In Patna After Bihar Poll Results

Verdict

The viral video does not show a Dalit groom being forced off a horse by upper-caste men. It depicts an argument during a traditional Dussehra horse race in Maddikera village, Andhra Pradesh, involving families from the Yadav community.

FAQ

1. Is the viral video from a Dalit groom’s wedding?
No. It is from a Dussehra horse race in Maddikera.

2. Why is the man removing his turban in the video?
He removed it during an argument related to the horse race, not due to caste harassment.

3. Who are the people involved in the dispute?
They are members of the Yadav community, from two families who participate in the annual race.

4. Did the police confirm any caste-based violence?
No. Police confirmed it was not caste-related.

5. Is this horse race an annual tradition?
Yes. The race is held every year during Dussehra and is well-documented in local media.

Sources

YouTube Shorts by VENU Film Factory, October 2, 2025
YouTube Shorts by VENU Film Factory, October 3, 2025
YouTube Shorts by VENU Film Factory, October 23, 2025
Facebook post by Venu Ta RRock, October 3, 2025
Facebook post by Venu Ta RRock, October 16, 2021
Instagram post by Venu Ta RRock, October 3, 2025
YouTube video by ETV Andhra Pradesh, October 3, 2025
YouTube video by ABN Telugu, September 29, 2025
YouTube video by RTV Kurnool, October 13, 2024
Report by The Hans India, October 1, 2025
YouTube videos by VENU Film Factory, dated 2023 and 2022
Telephonic conversation with Maddikera PS SHO Vijay
Telephonic conversation with Venu