MAPUSA
The uncertainty of how the authorities are going to react to the sound curbs has created a certain hush but there is also hope in the air that the government will take a lenient view on account of Christmas and New Year and allow the traditional dances to go on uninterrupted.
But despite the uncertainty and anxiety, the organisers of the traditional dances in Bardez are all set to hold the event in a grand way.
Unlike the huge publicity campaigns in the print, the organisers this time are focusing more on social media and word of mouth to spread the word.
“Our dance will go on and so will all the other traditional dances in the State. We will definitely carry on with our dance. If somebody complains then we shall see...,” said Michael Carrasco, the founder member of the dance organised by the Britto’s Old Boys Association.
The dance is organised in the open-air enclave at Alva Mar in Parra on December 25 and has now become a tradition which has been going on for the last more than 10 years.
Carrasco opined that sound restrictions existed even in the past but the State government had removed the curbs on certain days in the year including during Christmas, New Year, Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi.
“Sound ban was always there but it was exempted during Christmas, New Year, Diwali, Holi etc. We would play music by maintaining cordial relations with everyone and we used to not have any problems. Only if someone complains then there would be an issue,” he said.
He said in the interest of the State, the government should do something about the sound ban so that traditional events are not disturbed and music is allowed to be played well past midnight.
“It affects the tourism industry also and the state should take care of that,” he said.
The traditional dances during Christmas and New Year were being held every year except for the two years during the pandemic when most of the large-gathering events were cancelled on account of Covid-imposed restrictions.
“Except during the Covid, we have been organising the traditional Christmas dance for the last 28 years without any problem. If somebody complained, the police would come knocking but that also was very rare. People knew it was just a one-day event,” said Joseph Pinto, a co-organiser of the traditional Christmas and New Year dances at the open-air venue, Emerald Lawns in Parra.
He said they had marshalled all the resources to hold the traditional dances this time too and did not expect any problem on account of the sound ban.
“There is some apprehension but we expect the government to take a soft approach towards the traditional events and that gives them big hope,” he said.
He said the issue of sound restrictions has come into focus only because of some irresponsible restaurants and shack operators who have been blaring the music and creating a nuisance to the locals.
But for now, the traditional dance organisers are all set to give their best and hold the event come what may.
