Sunburn, a mirror to how Goa works

Every year, Sunburn Festival, held at the fag end of December, is Goa's tryst with truth, with honesty and with itself.  It is a test to how much this small State can decide of its own priorities.  On what is good for itself.  And, above all, to stand up to big money and influence.

Each year, various dissenting voices arise about how Sunburn is harmful (in various ways).  How it could be shifted to some other venue in Goa.  But yet, each year Sunburn has kept going, and growing.

It has been alive and kicking.  First, since 2007, held till 2012 in Candolim, and then at the former hippy capital of Vagator.  It shifted to Pune (Poona, earlier) in 2016, but was back with a bang (pun intended) in Vagator in 2019.

There's something that the politician knows well about the cash cow that is Sunburn.  But here's something the average citizen of Goa might not realise.  That is, there are reasons why the controversial, and despite the many issues it raises, Sunburn always manages to get its way.

The Sunburn Festival is claimed to be the "third largest dance festival in the world".  According to its promoter's Shailendra Singh's EMC album's post (Facebook http://t.ly/M90ol] it got a "record attendance of over 3.5 lakh fans" for its Sunburn Goa 2015 event.

Tickets priced at a minimum of Rs 3000 were going out online.  Then there are far higher tickets, the pricing of which isn't quite clear.  This was happening regardless of whether Goa's political class, and some groups (both dubious and legit) were raising issues about where, when and whether it should be held.

Shailendra Singh -- known as the Sports Marketing Guru, the Advertising Whizz, the Bollywood producer, as also a "shrewd deal-maker" with his headquarters in Lower Parel-- has told his version in his book 'The True Story of Sunburn' (Dec 2014).

We are reminded that Sunburn (then) is the ninth largest festival in the world, largest in Asia, and had grown "from a small experiment on a Goan become, to become the largest festival season on the planet".  But then, keep in mind that its founder comes from a background of advertising.  What you are told is not what you see, what you might get or what it might be.

When it comes to Goa, Sunburn has a different impact altogether.  What is the net result of bringing in so many (almost a third of a million, by 2015 figures) at precisely the most crowded week that State sees?  It is early December, and Goa is already showing signs of being swamped.  Roads are packed and unsafe, commuting has become a pain, and many Goans would prefer to be jailed inside their homes for much of the month.

Things get far worse if you live closer to Vagator and the madness of the North Goa coast.

Inspite of this, each year, the Government and our policy planners come out with strong statements against Sunburn, and telling us at how it will not go ahead "this year".  In hindsight, Sunburn goes ahead nonetheless.

This, therefore, seems to be either just wishful thinking, weak policy planning, or far worse.  The last option could include attempts to up the price, squeeze the organisers for gratifications and kickbacks, and then just carry on with things as if it's business as usual.

Take a look at some of the background.  

In 2015, Digambar Kamat, who had lost his chief ministership to Manohar Parrikar, was asking questions about the number of Sunburn festivals held in Goa till then.  Between 2012-14, the State Government was earning revenue of approx Rs 3 crore per year (event).  The issue comes up routinely in the Assembly, but followup seems scant.  Even revenue leakages are not clear, compared to the numbers attending, and dislocation caused in the State.

Even in 2013, there was talk of Sunburn having "run into trouble in Goa with upset locals and an angry chief minister" (Rolling Stone).

In mid-Dec 2022, the Goa high court bench noted the higher-than-permissible noise levels during the festival and sought a detailed report from the State Chief Secretary.  (HT)

In end-Dec 2022, the high court bench ordered the start of the process to prosecute Sunburn organisers for green violations.

This year, the speculation continued.  In July 2023, there was discussion in the local papers as to whether Sunburn would shift to Mopa, home of the new airport.  The issue featured in the Assembly, but the MLA from Pernem was opposed to hosting it there.  In August 2023, the tourism minister Rohan Khaunte was quoted as saying that the "government will not dance to the tune of the festival organisers".

The Anjuna Caisua Biodiversity Management Committee filed a complaint asking permissions be not be given for Sunburn at Vagator as it "leads to massive loss of biodiversity by felling of trees on the hilltops, heaps of garbage remain(ing) in the ground after the festival, the traffic problem during the festival, and traffic jams overwhelm(ing) the common people."

But then, the discourse changes suddenly.

This year, the issue shifted to whether Sunburn should be allowed on Dec 31 or not.  And also the question of the local comunidade body being paid its dues.  How nice.

Last year something similar happened.  In 2022, minister Rohan Khaunte was highlighting the launch of a 'Goa Village' that he would inaugurate at Sunburn.  This, it was said, would "provide both established and upcoming artists from Goa to showcase and promote their talent at a globally-acclaimed platform".

Sunburn 2023, with its "Enchanted Forest" theme, and "six mesmerising stages with state-of-the-art production and eclectic designs", is set to host over 120 artists through its duration.  What does this mean for Goa?  Do its people have any say in the organising of such events?  Or will its political class foist controversial and inconveniencing events, and then blame the citizenry for "opposing everything"?