MARGAO: A storm is brewing over the shifting of the Sunburn EDM Festival to South Goa with the locals raising apprehensions that the electronic music dance (EDM) fest is a threat to all and to the peaceful life in South Goa. They have vowed to take to the streets to stop it.
The organisers announced on its ‘X’ handle that the Sunburn Music Festival will shift to South Goa and will be held from December 28 to 30, calling it ‘the next chapter of Sunburn’.
‘Immerse yourself in the ultimate blend of music and surreal underwater experience,’ the message stated.
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism sources said that no application has been received from the organisers of Sunburn EDM to hold the event in South Goa. “The announcement is from the organisers and it is our opinion that they are judging the public reaction to hold the event in South Goa by making such an announcement,” an official said.
Reacting to the news of shifting of Sunburn to South Goa, former MLA Adv Radharao Gracias said, “It seems that the BJP wants to teach a lesson to the people of South for having taught them a lesson in the recently held Lok Sabha election in South Goa. They want to dump the garbage of Sunburn on the people of South District.”
Adv Gracias added, “However, the people of South Goa will certainly not accept it. People will surely stand up and come on the streets if they move ahead with the event. This Sunburn is a threat to all of us to the peaceful life in South Goa.”
Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho said, “Naka re Baba! Sunburn cannot be permitted in South Goa.”
He said, “The South still keeps the soul of Goa alive and has to be kept and preserved for the next generation. Drugs are the obvious part of such music. The repetitive beat music necessarily promotes drugs. All MLAs, panchayats and NGOs must stand up to oppose this nonsense.”
“The music played at Sunburn leads to consumption of drugs. The South cannot have it if the North cannot tolerate it. It is a menace,” added Adv Coutinho.
“We don’t want the Sunburn festival in South Goa. This festival is not our culture. It promotes anti-social activities. Sunburn cannot be conducted in South Goa,” said Auda Viegas, a veteran social activist.
“However, there is already opposition to the shifting of Sunburn to South Goa. We have heard that Sunburn is shifting to South Goa. They have finished North Goa with drugs, noise pollution, etc. The politicians collect money from them. Everyone gets money. We know what Sunburn is. People have died at the festival of drug overdose. That this festival is happening in Goa is shocking,” said Jose Maria Miranda, senior activist from Margao.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva said, “We are opposing it in South Goa because they have already spoiled North Goa with that event. We do not want it in South Goa. I do not know about the venue but we will not allow the vehicles to pass through our villages.”
Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa said, “As the Congress party has said, we will not allow it in South Goa. This is my view also. If it is in my constituency I will oppose it.”
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “The organiser and the government are always hand-in-glove. It is only destroying what is left in the South or in Goa. At any cost we will not allow this. People will object and as a leader of the Opposition I too will object.”
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “It will be premature to talk. I will talk only with details.”
Meanwhile, the announcement that the Sunburn EDM festival would be relocated from North Goa to South Goa sparked immediate outrage among South Goa residents across various social media platforms.
Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir (GFPK) president Jack Mascarenhas, said, “Sunburn’s history in North Goa, marked by alleged disregard for local communities, environmental damage, and potential harm documented in reports of drug-related deaths, paints a deeply concerning picture for the future of South Goa. Their track record does not inspire confidence.”