Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an underwater pilgrily in the city of Dwarka on the west coast of India in the state of Gujarat on February 25. The ancient town is said to have a close connection with the god Hindu Krishna and is considered one of the most sacred places of the Hindu people.
The video of Mr. Modi's pilgrimage was posted on social media platforms and received nearly 4 million views on X network alone (formerly Twitter). In the video, it can be seen the Indian leader wearing a diving suit and performing yoga poses on the water surface. He also offered a goose feather to pay tribute to the Hindu god.
Diving in air bottles is a famous tourist attraction in town. The diving site is near Beyt Dwarka Island, where visitors can see the underwater ruins of the ancient town that were excavated by archaeologists. According to UNESCO, the search for the flooded part of Dwarka began in the 1930s. The first archaeological excavation took place in 2019.
Prime Minister Modi has been given diving assistance by some divers believed to be from the Indian Navy. Those moments will be with me for the rest of my life, Modi said in the trailer of the video. The Indian leader said he felt connected to the great antiquity and the timeless admiration.
Ive always been curious about going there and touching the ruins of the ancient city of Dwarka. Today I am full of emotions. The dream of decades has come true, Prime Minister Modi said in a later public address.
Mr. Modi is looking to promote religious tourism in India as the country prepares for the national election this year. Mr. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is still considered the leading party to this day. Last month, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a $18 million temple dedicated to the god Ram in Ayodhya, fulfilling one of his key promises from the 2019 election campaign.
The Indian government is promoting Ayodhya Temple as a must-see tourist destination and is expected to attract about 100 million visitors each year, according to hindustan Times.
