India’s Biggest Four Day Festival Sunburn Facing Stern Opposition
Sunburn is arguably asia’s biggest dance music festival that has it’s foundations laid on the golden beaches of Goa. Vagator and Candolim were the two previous venues graced by this epic boutique/music festival but now it is held in the city of Pune on Kesnand Hills. Sunburn faces a political tug of war ahead of its plans to move back to Goa. Where one of the state cabinet ministers is against it happening another one does not seem to have a problem with it.
Goa’s Minister for Water Resources Vinod Palyekar declared his undeterred refusal to the idea of the festival’s homecoming. In an article in a local newspaper he states,
“In the past we witnessed deaths due to drug overdose at the EDMs. As a true Goemkar, it’s my duty to oppose a festival of this kind, tooth and nail. At any cost, I will not allow [EDM] to malign state’s image”
Another report from Herald Goa published his interview in which he said,
“I am for good tourism in the State and we need to have a Tourism Policy in order to attract quality tourists who will come and spend heavily and in return would get quality time in the State. We cannot allow brand Goa’s name to get tarnished at any cost”
While all this commotion has been going on, Tourism minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar had put himself on Sunburn’s side and had given a somewhat unspoken green. However in a recent meeting the committee decided that Sunburn has to pay the dues before it’s case is considered viable and can be acted upon.
Sunburn have been quite active on Social platforms declaring its big upcoming ‘Road To Ultra‘ shows that will include the likes of Rezz, Chainsmokers, Slushi and Getter. My Sunburn experience was nothing less than legendary. I found myself forever overwhelmed to watch and listen to some of my favourites DJs over the years. Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Axwell (SHM) and Mr. Oh Yes Carl Cox are some of the exceptional names to have graced the stage of Sunburn. I personally hope to be on the Vagator Hill for this year’s edition, only time will tell its actual fate.