Fact Check: This picture of priests performing puja at Tirumala was NOT clicked during the lockdown

A picture of priests performing puja is being circulated on social media with a claim that it was clicked on March 31, 2020, (amid the lockdown) at Tirumala Temple.
“तय कीजिये ये छिपे हुए हैं या फंसे हुए हैं ….!
तस्वीर की खबर है कि 31 मार्च को तिरुमला की तस्वीर और आयोजन है।” the caption read.

At the time of filing this report, the above post had 10,000 shares on Facebook.

FACT CHECK

NewsMobile fact-checked the above post and found the claim to be false.
On putting the image through Reverse Image Search, we came across an article by India Today featuring the same image, which was credited to PTI.

“Priests performing pooja to mitigate Covid-19 pandemic at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in Chennai on March 19 (Photo Credits: PTI)” the caption read.
According to the article, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam board had earlier closed the temple for pilgrims in the Tirumala temple till March 31. The board has now extended the suspension of the Srivari (Lord) darshan at Srivari temple (main temple) for pilgrims till April 14.
The above information proves that the viral picture was NOT taken on March 31, 2020.