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This is an archive article published on November 23, 2023

‘Sunburn promotes drug culture’: Hindu outfit calls for ban on music festival in Goa

A delegation of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector, North Goa on Thursday, appealing for a ban on the festival, scheduled to be held at the Vagator beach from December 28 to 31.

Sunburn festivalLast week, the organisers of the festival announced the line-up on Instagram. (Wikimedia Commons/Vyacheslav Argenberg)
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‘Sunburn promotes drug culture’: Hindu outfit calls for ban on music festival in Goa
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A Goa-based right-wing organisation has called for a ban on the annual electronic dance music (EDM) festival, Sunburn, in Goa, claiming that the festival promotes “drug culture”.

A delegation of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector, North Goa on Thursday, appealing for a ban on the festival, scheduled to be held at the Vagator beach from December 28 to 31.

“The organisers have recently announced that ‘Sunburn 2023’ will be held in Goa at Vagator beach like every year. Due to the festival, Goa’s civility is deteriorating. Such festivals are destroying the youth by promoting drug culture,” the memorandum said.

“Organising ‘Sunburn’ is cultural treason. It is our responsibility to protect Gomantak culture and the youth of Goa. Goa should be free from ‘EDM’,” it added.

Govind Chodankar, North Goa coordinator, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, said, “We appeal to the government to ban the festival from Goa forever and preserve its cultural identity. Such festivals promote drug culture.”

Last week, the organisers of the festival announced the line-up on Instagram. “For years, we have called Vagator our home and we proudly announce, Sunburn Festival 2023 will be taking place in Vagator, Goa,” the post read.

Sources in the tourism department said that the government is yet to grant a clearance. “The documents submitted by the organisers were not complete. They were asked to submit the documents for clearance and four reminders have been sent,” said an official, requesting anonymity.

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Earlier, in August, amid speculation that the festival could be shifted to an alternate venue this year, residents in North Goa’s Pernem taluka had threatened to protest against any proposal for the event to be held in their taluka.

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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