Goa may host week-long EDM festival to rival Sunburn: Tourism Minister

Khaunte further said that the state government is working towards organising a week-long festival in December

Accusing the organisers of the popular Sunburn Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival of taking the Goa government for granted, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday said that the state government would organise its own EDM festival in December.

Stating that the government was planning a week-long musical event, Khaunte said that Goa had built its own identity in the sphere and there was no reason why the state government should not host such a festival on a mammoth scale.

"If we are able to create a festival in December at the same time, which will be having a different flavor on the same lines, then why not?" the Tourism Minister told reporters.

"If Goa can create its own identity, then why not the festival of Goa?” he added.

For more than a decade now, the Sunburn EDM festival has been one of the most sought after music events held in Goa, attracting thousands of contemporary music lovers from Indian cities, especially Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. It is an event which also lends to the New Year festivities which Goa is popular for.

The promoters of the event have already announced that the festival would be held in Goa this year too. But Khaunte claims that the organisers appear to be taking the state government for granted.

"Sunburn should first understand that they need to take permission from the Goa government and then think about posting advertisements..." Khaunte said.

"We are visualising getting our own festival during that particular time. We have plans to start it, hence, Sunburn may not find the space,” he further said.