Speculation suggests move back to coastal village after opposition from locals in Dhargalim
MAPUSA
The fate of the iconic Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival remains uncertain, with speculation mounting that the event may be relocated back to Anjuna after initial plans to host it in Dhargalim were met with fierce resistance from residents, including Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar and members of the village panchayats.
As discussions around the festival’s location unfold, local sources and past festival volunteers from the beach village have said that enough hints have been dropped that Sunburn may make its way to Anjuna, although no official confirmation has been provided.
Local volunteers from Anjuna who have worked with Sunburn in the past reported that they have been tipped off to “stay ready” for a potential return of the festival. According to insiders in the Anjuna comunidade, some clubs in the village have already been contacted about hosting after-party events.
Volunteers have also been advised to arrange accommodations in nearby areas such as Vagator, Siolim and Morjim in anticipation of the festival’s possible return.
However, Anjuna Comunidade president Dominic Pereira said that his office has not received any official proposal from the Sunburn organisers.
“If the organisers wish to hold the event here, they will need to apply with the Administrator of Comunidades, North Goa,” Pereira stated. He added that any proposal, if received, would be put before the comunidade’s general body for a final decision.
Pereira also highlighted that the Sunburn organisers had previously applied for a refund on fees for land use from last year's event, a request recently rejected by the Anjuna comunidade’s general body. This adds another layer of complexity to any future application to host the festival in Anjuna.
Meanwhile, the opposition in Dhargalim remains strong. The backlash began after information surfaced on an online booking site listing Dhargalim as the festival’s location for this year.
In response, Dhargalim residents, backed by the local MLA and panchayats, voiced concerns about potential disruption to their village life and environment.
Attempts to reach Vinay, a representative linked to past Sunburn events, for comment were unsuccessful, as he declined to make any statements on record.
With the festival traditionally attracting large crowds from across India and abroad, the outcome of this decision is likely to have a major impact on local tourism, safety measures and community dynamics as Goa readies itself for the holiday season.
