Round 20 years in the past, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertook a one-of-its sort train: An underwater exploration and excavation work to review underwater historical stays off the Dwarka coast in Gujarat the place Dwarka Nagri – the legendary Mahabharat-era metropolis is believed to be submerged in sea for 1000’s of years now.
Final month, armed with a brand new group led by a veteran of the 2005-07 train, and comprising three girls, the ASI resumed the train off the coast of Dwarka between February 17 and 20 with the purpose to know the archaeological significance of town “in a greater approach”.
The group of 5 specialists of ASI, led by Further Director Common (Archeology) Alok Tripathi, is a part of the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the ASI, which has been revived. The Dwarka train is the primary one which the wing has undertaken after mendacity defunct for years. Other than Tripathi, the opposite members of the group are H Okay Nayak (Director, Excavations and Explorations), Aparajita Sharma and Poonam Vind (Assistant Superintending Archaeologists), and Rajkumari Barbiba (Assistant Archaeologist).
Explaining the target behind the train, Tripathi mentioned, “The UAW had carried out intensive survey and excavation in 2005-07 in Dwarka. After that, the work had stopped. At the moment, the work was completed in a restricted space. Now, additional work has been began once more on a bigger scale.” Tripathi mentioned that the latest underwater train was a preliminary go to to see the placement the place work was carried out in 2005-07 and to determine areas the place additional work could be completed. Extra such visits are anticipated inside a month.
He mentioned, “It’s a new group. And the aim was additionally to indicate the world to the brand new group members. The group will go to the world once more later this month.” He indicated that large-scale excavations are prone to be taken up in winter. “The train would come with examine of the accessible historical stays, their relationship…,” Tripathi, who was a part of the ASI group that carried out the earlier underwater explorations, mentioned.
Recollecting the exploration, Tripathi mentioned, “In 2005, we had explored all of the locations associated to Dwarka like Madhavpur, Mul Dwarika, Panch Dwarika, Dwarika, Beyt Dwarika and so on.. So, all these locations, that are often called (historical) Dwarka or related to Dwarka, have been explored. After that we focussed on (the world close to present) Dwarka.”
He additional mentioned, “In 2006, we carried out a hydrographic (examine of bodily options of the ocean, and so on) survey. So, the massive space off-Dwarka was surveyed in collaboration with the Indian Navy. We had additionally completed a bathymetric (associated to depth of a water physique) examine of all the space. In 2007, excavations have been completed. Excavation was additionally carried out within the Dwarkadheesh Temple advanced again then,” he added.
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Referring to the 2005-07 train, an official launch of PIB (Press Info Bureau) had acknowledged, “The coastal areas have been examined throughout low tide the place sculptures and stone anchors have been found. Primarily based on these explorations, underwater excavations have been carried out.”
Of late, Dwarka and the traditional metropolis have been in focus since final February when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went scuba diving off the Panchkui seashore coast and carried out underwater prayers on the web site of what’s thought of to be Dwarka Nagari. “To wish within the metropolis of Dwarka, which is immersed within the waters, was a really divine expertise. I felt related to an historical period of non secular grandeur and timeless devotion. Could Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all,” Modi had tweeted after the scuba diving.
It’s believed that after killing his uncle Kamsa, Krishna migrated from Mathura to Dwarka along with his Yadava clan, and based his kingdom right here by reclaiming 12 yojana land from the ocean. The city, nonetheless, is believed to have been submerged underneath the ocean afterward. Current-day Dwarka is a coastal city positioned on the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, going through the Arabian Sea. The city is part of the Krishna pilgrimage circuit, which incorporates Vrindavan, Mathura, Govardhan, Kurukshetra and Puri, and is house to the Thirteenth-century Dwarkadheesh temple.
As per a word from the Nationwide Institute of Oceanography, “As Dwarka has the historic significance and affiliation with the Mahabharata, the location has attracted a number of archaeologists and historians apart from scientists.”
