New Delhi: The fear of “hurting religious sentiments” has apparently forced the government to deny shooting permission to a US-based reality television series, Expedition Unknown, a programme that aims to investigate legends and mysteries across the world.
The producers were planning to uncover the secrets of a legendary mythical underwater lost city off the coast of India, Dwarka.
As per Hindu mythology, Dwarka was a city where Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, once lived. Incidentally, Dwarka is mentioned in the Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Skand Purana and Vishnu Purana.
According to the Hindu mythology, the city was built by Vishwakarma, creator God who is worshipped by the artisans. The city was submerged in sea following Gandhari’s (mother of Kauravas) curse to Lord Kirshna after the epic war, Mahabharata, in which all her 100 sons were killed.
One of the series of this programme aimed to uncover the mysteries, legends and the history and stories behind this myth. The programme is presented by archaeologist, explorer, Josh Gates, and was being aired since January 2015 on the US-based Travel Channel.
Sources revealed that the producers, Ping Pong Productions and Snake Oil Productions, USA, had sought permission to shoot the show and submitted an initial detailed script for shooting off the coast of India. The government, however, “denied permission” as it apprehended the shooting could possibly hurt religious sentiment.
It may be recalled that several expeditions conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India, both underwater and on shore, have so far failed to establish any historical link to this myth. Even though mystery continued to shroud the lost city of Krishna, in the western shores of Gujarat exist Dwarka, a holy city, which people regard as one of the Chaardhams, four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites.
