If there is one place synonymous with parties and EDM in the
country, it is Goa. Over the years, the little state has grown in stature as a
must-go-to venue for its nightlife. This reputation has been further
consolidated by the fact that the country’s big names in EDM festivals choose
Goa as their venue. Now, international ventures such as Tomorrowland have
decided that it is time that they too entered the fray.
In recent times, Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar stated
the event organisers’ intent to host the event, saying, “The event organisers
have approached us and have shown interest to host the event in the middle of
January, but the responsibility for identification of land will have to be
borne by the group since they require 3.5 lakh square metres of land which is
difficult to identify.”
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This is undoubtedly a large issue to address. The middle of
January also seems perhaps improbable to most, given the fact that a few months
of preparatory time may not be sufficient for an event of this magnitude. It
seems a bit of a stretch to expect that the event organisers of Tomorrowland
will be in a position to procure a location, book the artists they desire, and
promote the event, all in a span of approximately three months. Manoj Agarwal,
the CEO of Percept Live, the organisers of Sunburn, one of the country’s most
popular EDM festivals, shares his views on the same. “An event of this
magnitude would take a minimum of 24 months of planning. Thus, I do not see the
event happening in January 2015. From talking to local authorities, to artists,
to travel planning, there are many aspects of organisation that require to be
addressed.”
While Tomorrowland is one of the planet’s EDM undeniable
bigwigs, it is also an event which has united a massive number of artists and
EDM fans from across the globe. As such, even if the event comes to fruition,
it may come as no surprise that there may be logistical hurdles involved with
the organisation while footfalls in certain sectors may increase. Karlton, a
restaurateur from Candolim, one of Goa’s largest nightlife and party hubs,
shares his view on both sides of the coin. “It all comes down to effective
planning. It is great in terms of boosting the local tourist market as during
festivals, there are a fair number of walk-in clients. However, in terms of
traffic management, there is a fair amount of congestion,” he opines.
While some people are indifferent to these festivals, others
find them a transcendent experience. For a large chunk of people out there,
Tomorrowland is more than just an EDM festival. Every beat is tangible energy
that acts like a life source. And for those, the near future could bring with
it news that could lead to their experience of a lifetime. For others, perhaps
a less pleasant experience as they brace themselves to face the hurdles that
are a part and parcel of these events.
