MAPUSA
The State government may have cancelled the traditional Shigmo parade over fears of Covid spike, but thousands of desi tourists are set to make their way into coastal Goa at the weekend to celebrate the Holi festival.
All roads lead to the North Goa coastal belt as a number of clubs and hotels in Candolim and Anjuna have lined up a host of parties at the weekend.
Social media is flooded with advertising propaganda beckoning tourists to have a ball ring in the Holi celebration during the weekend in Goa.
Anjuna’s favourite party destinations “ Hill Top, UV Bar, Curlies, Café Lilliput “ are among a host of clubs, shacks and restaurants that have flooded the online space with their party line-up.
“Three more days to go for the best Holi party to start!!! Save your energy because this Monday 29.03.2021 at ORIGENS JUNGLE GOA you will need it all as starting 9 am in morning we have curated a blockbuster 24 plus hours event for you with a line up not seen this season in Goa. Day time will be headed by none other than Sajanka…,” runs an online campaign offering a Holi blast at Ozrant, Vagator.
Candolim is no different with clubs and restaurants along the beach belt trying to capitalise on the weekend bonanza.
While Toy Beach Club is offering “rang & roll” on the beach, the popular club among the youngsters, Sinq is offering a Holi Party.
With so many tourists expected to arrive and take part in the parties in Goa, will the management be able to follow all Covid norms?
“If the line-up of DJs at the clubs are anything to go by, then wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing is definitely going to be a casualty at these parties. The DJs charge nothing less than Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh per evening and therefore, the clubs need more guests to recover the cost. So, they will not follow the SOPs,” said Roshan Mathias, a resident of Candolim.
Meanwhile, beaches in North Goa are flooded with desi tourists who move around carefree with no masks and zero precautions.
“These tourists are the people who are running away from the Covid sites from Maharashtra and Karnataka and coming to Goa for cheap holidays. They infect our locals and then, we have to pay the price. There are no checks on our borders. They are just coming in,” rued Mathias.
According to Deputy Collector Kapil Phadte, the police have been informed to keep an eye on all the entertainment zones along the coastal belt.
