Offended Lord Shiva, Sanatana Dharma, alcohol: Here’s why Goa’s sunburn festival is under fire

Sunburn EDM is a popular electronic dance music festival that started on Thursday at Goa’s Vagator and culminated on Saturday.

Panaji: One of Goa’s most popular events, the Sunburn Festival, is under attack by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, who are demanding strict action against the organizers of the EDM festival, claiming they have insulted Lord Shiva. Congress leader Vijay Bhike has filed a police complaint against the organizers and demanded strict action against them. On the other hand, AAP Goa chief Amit Palekar demanded that the state government take action against them for hurting ‘Sanatana Dharma’.

Notably, Sunburn EDM, a popular electronic dance music festival, started at Vagator in North Goa on December 28 and ended on Saturday.

What did AAP’s Goa chief say?

“We saw Lord Shankar’s image being used during the festival. It was flashed on the LED screen when people were drunk and dancing,” Palekar told the media on Friday. The party demanded action from the state government as “the sanctity of our Sanatana Dharma” was at risk.

“Our God’s use of the EDM festival where alcohol is served is not right. We have called on the Director General of Police to demand registration of a crime against the organizers of the Sunburn festival,” he added.

What did the Congress leader say?

According to Congress leader Bhike’s complaint, the organizers of the event deliberately insulted the religious sentiments of Hindus. “Organizers have deliberately insulted the religious sentiments of Hindus by portraying Lord Shiva as supporting drinking of alcohol, consumption of banned substances and all other illegal activities taking place during the event,” Bhike wrote in the complaint filed with the police station from Mapusa.

What do the police do?

Police said they have received the Congress leader’s complaint and are investigating it.