MAPUSA
The organisers of Sunburn, Asia’s biggest electronic dance music (EDM) festival, have proposed hosting their annual year-end event on a large plateau in Camurlim, a quaint village located in the Tivim constituency of Bardez.
The Camurlim comunidade has received a formal request from the festival promoters, and the matter will be discussed in a general body meeting of the Gaunkars on October 6.
"We have received a proposal from a private company to hold the Sunburn festival on comunidade land. The decision will be put before the general body of Gaunkars for their approval," said Vassudev Gaonkar, President of the Camurlim Comunidade.
Camurlim, located about 9 kms from Mapusa town, is known for its peaceful ambiance and narrow roads. The village has a unique identity, historically recognised for sand extraction.
The potential arrival of the Sunburn festival, however, is raising questions among locals, many of whom are concerned about the impact such a large-scale event could have on the village’s character.
“We are firmly opposed to an event like Sunburn, which has become infamous for various illegal activities. In the past, we've successfully resisted mega projects in our village, and allowing Sunburn would be like opening the door for these large-scale ventures to creep in. Outsiders will start focusing on our village, stripping away its identity as a peaceful, rural community,” said Roshan Fadte, a local resident.
For years, Sunburn was hosted in Vagator, in the neighbouring Siolim constituency, where it attracted tens of thousands of national and international tourists during its three-day run in late December.
While the festival is popular, it has also faced criticism for alleged drug availability, with reports of a few deaths linked to overdoses in previous editions.
Initially, the organisers had planned to move the festival to South Goa this year. However, intense opposition from local residents and public pressure forced them to reconsider.
Local MLAs, sensing the strong backlash from constituents, withdrew their support for holding the event in South Goa.
Alternative locations in the Verna industrial estate and Betul were also explored, but no agreement was reached.
The decision now rests with the Camurlim comunidade, as they weigh the potential benefits and risks of bringing Sunburn to their village.
