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Panaji: Asia's Biggest Music Festival Faces Uncertainity
- Mon, Dec 22 2008 12:52:57 PM
Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa
Panaji, Dec 22: Sunburn, labeled as Asia's biggest music festival, is facing uncertainty with Goa banning the beach parties citing security reasons.
The festival was scheduled in Goa from December 26 to 28 at North district's Candolim beach. The top disk jockeys from the world over where expected to perform for the festival that has been held in Goa since last year.
The state government last weekend had decided to ban all the beach parties from December 23 to January 5. The decision came a couple of days after the sunburn festival organizers declared their event.
The festival organizers claim that they have all the requisite permissions while district administration has categorically stated that the event would be on hold.
"We have all the required permissions and there will be clarity on the issue only today," Manoj Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer of Percent D'Mark, organizer of the event, said.
The organizers claim that the festival is not held on the beach and in a private property which gives it immunity from the ban.
Interestingly, the festival website www.sunburn-festival.com carries a notice which reads that "Conflicting reports in Goa newspapers case doubt on post 10 pm parties on public beaches, but Sunburn runs from 12 noon to 10 pm on private property and has the full backing of the Goa government and local authorities."
The district administration has said that the sunburn festival is not exempted from the ban. "There are no exceptions for any festival except traditional celebrations," North Goa collector Mihir Vardhan said.
The state police officials also contended that they have not issued any no objection certificate to any of the festival and they are proceeding with the ban orders due to the security requirements.