MAPUSA
The organisers of the much-debated event titled ‘Tales of Kamasutra & Christmas Celebration’, which was being promoted online for December 25-28, have confirmed that the programme stands cancelled and that they have “no plans” to hold it in the future.
The confirmation came during a WhatsApp exchange this reporter initiated on the contact number provided on the promotional flier.
Posing as an interested participant, this reporter asked whether registrations were still open.
The organiser’s first response was brief and categorical: “Sorry, it’s cancelled.”
When asked what prompted the sudden cancellation, the organiser said the event had been “misunderstood” by the public and acknowledged that the team had erred by associating it with Christmas.
“It’s misunderstood and somewhere it’s our mistake to use the festival name. We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feeling,” the organiser replied.
Pressed further on whether the event might be revived at a later date with a different title or in a different format, the organiser dismissed the possibility, responding simply: “No plans.”
The announcement comes after days of heated discussion on social media, with individuals, citizen groups and Church members criticising the coupling of a spiritual-erotic themed workshop with one of Christianity’s most sacred festivals.
Many argued that the promo trivialised the religious significance of Christmas, while others questioned the intent behind promoting such a programme during peak festive season in Goa.
The organisers, in earlier online captions, had described the programme as a multi-day “celebration” beginning December 25, but had not clarified the nature of the sessions beyond references to meditation, intimacy awareness and emotional expression.
The vague branding and provocative title only amplified public outrage.
With the organisers now stepping back entirely, the controversy appears to have closed on their end – for now – though the debate it sparked regarding cultural sensitivity, responsible event promotion and festival-linked branding continues to resonate online.
