February 6, 2026 | 02:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Content claiming that former Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made a pilgrimage to the Tirumala Temple in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, circulated on Facebook [archive] and Instagram on January 30, 2026.
The content shows a man claimed to be Jokowi wearing a traditional gold-colored headband, bracelet, necklace, and a gold shawl with red accents. Several bodyguards are seen accompanying the man.
But is it true that the man making a pilgrimage at Tirumala Temple in India is Jokowi?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the content by conducting a reverse image search, analyzing the image, and comparing it with credible media reports. The results show that the man pictured in the circulating content is not Jokowi.
The error originated from a Hindi-language website, India Times, which reported that former Indonesian President Joko Widodo, a Muslim, paid respects at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
It is said that Jokowi was warmly welcomed by officials from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and invited to see the deity at the temple. He was then presented with a silk robe, prasad, and an image of Lord Venkateswara.
However, Jokowi was not visiting India on that date. Through Joko Widodo's official X account, the former Indonesian president announced that he was receiving a visit from the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, at his home in Solo, Central Java. According to Jawapos.com, the visit took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
After that, Jokowi attended the national working meeting (Rakernas) of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on January 29-30, 2026.
Jokowi arrived in Makassar on late Friday, January 30, 2026. He delivered his remarks at the PSI summit on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Based on visual analysis, there are a number of distinctions between the man claimed to be Jokowi and the former president himself. One of the most striking differences is in the fingernails. Jokowi does not have very long fingernails like the man shown in the content.
Another difference is their skin color. Jokowi has darker skin, a more oval-shaped face, and thinner eyebrows. In terms of posture, Jokowi is also thinner and taller than the man visiting the temple.
It is unclear why a number of Indian media outlets have referred to the man making the pilgrimage to the Tirumala Temple as Jokowi.
CONCLUSION
Tempo's verification concluded that the claim that Jokowi visited the Tirumala Temple in India is false.
TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM
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