Sunburn says ‘show must go on’ at Hilltop Vagator

PANAJI
Despite the rejection of the proposal to organise the electronic dance music festival, Sunburn, albeit a smaller version, will indeed be held on Goan soil this year.

Percept Live, has said that a smaller version of their popular EDM ‘Sunburn’ will be held at Vagator, two days after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had announced that he has rejected the permission 

file moved by the Tourism Ministry.

The Sunburn organisers said, it has tied up with Hilltop at Vagator, one of Goa’s top nightlife venues, to hold a scaled-down version of their EDM. It will be a three-day event from December 27 to 29.

“Bearing in mind the improving situation and with nightlife & events slowly making a come-back, Percept has tied up with Hilltop, Vagator to produce a smaller limited capacity Sunburn event from December 27-29 at Hilltop, Vagator. This event is being organised with the support of the requisite authorities. The planning for the same is currently underway and Percept looks forward to welcoming fans in Goa very soon,” an official statement issued by Percept Live said.

The company, however, said the proposal it moved in the Goa government to hold Sunburn on the same mega-scale as in the past has been abandoned.

“Percept Live would like to clarify that an initial application was made to host Sunburn Festival at Vagator at a similar mega-scale as it used to take place earlier. Under advice from the government, it was decided to not pursue this mega festival any further due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence the Sunburn mega festival is not taking place in Goa this year,” the statement issued by Percept Live said.

Sawant had said that his office has rejected the proposal to hold Sunburn in Goa this year after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar, who holds the tourism portfolio and is a known protagonist of Sunburn, backed Sawant’s decision although he admitted that he had been in favour of it being organised this year.

The decision to reject the permission he admitted may have been taken by the chief minister on account of the possible re-emergence of the Covid pandemic.