29 Nov 2020 | 05:09am IST
Nothing is secret about parties in Goa. Even 'secret' parties
The underground party scene is red hot with parties happening all over the place I North Goa. The venues are kept secret and revealed via whatsapp messages at the last minute. Café spoke to people to ask them how they felt about these parties being held at a time when the virus was still running wild.
Ajit John
The paintings are by Godot and the music by Mr Yin and Yan.
Commencing once the sun sets the location of the show will be Whatsapped to
those interested. Called the Garden of Delight, no, this is not some show
featuring high art. Dismiss that thought from your brain. This was an
invite to a trance party that would start on Saturday evening and end sometime
in the early hours of Sunday. This is nothing unusual but rather the norm.
These parties are held all over the north and the frequency of these parties
will leave one with the impression that the virus which had changed life as
everyone knew had receded. It would like Goa was pretending that life was
now normal and what ever happened earlier in the year was a bad dream.
The reaction to this from Goans was one of resignation and
frustration. Sidharth Mehta said Goa was branded as fun’s own country as this
was known across the world as the one destination where the party never ended.
He said “Despite the worst pandemic recorded in human history the
virus has not been able to distance people from partying. The
underground rave parties, late night dance parties continue particularly on
the North Goa coastline. It is now the new normal but it is time the
administration cracked down till the vaccine comes.”
Kane Barretto a businessman based in Candolim said rave
parties and Goa had always made the headlines. He said “Despite the entire
economy coming to standstill there have been hordes of tourists continuing to
flock to Goa, their favorite destination. I have seen roads in Calangute,
Candolim and Baga with vehicles registered in either Maharashtra or
Karnataka. The people are dependent on business and these parties are happening
right under the nose of the administration. It is time to crack down very hard
with hefty fines levied”.
Ritesh Raikar expressed his anguish at the spate of rave
parties happening in Arambol and Mandrem without any checks. The concern about
this proliferation was also expressed by students. Kunal Kunkolienkar from
Margao said Goa had turned into a hub for underground rave parties by turning a
blind eye to the Covid norms. Cases, he said were increasing by the day and it
would not be long before the second phase was experienced by the people of Goa.
He said “These people don’t seem to have any sense of responsibility and they
will eventually suffer if they contract the virus”.
Vivek Kudaskar said “An organiser of rave parties who wished
to stay anonymous said he was happy because he was providing a service that no
one else could. He said he was proud of what he and his team were doing. We
cannot keep blaming the government, we have to take responsibility but people
are displaying their carelessness and the general society is paying for it.”
Hardik Tari attributed this to the corruption among people.
He said “Some people know what is going on but still keep quiet because of the
huge amount of money they are earning. Secondly the influential create such
groups and conduct rave parties with the help of some locals. Government
officials should keep an eye on each and every place where they visit. Thirdly
there should be strict checking at the borders, railway station, Air ports and
even harbours as they have a very strong network through which they can
transport drugs and other such stuffs.
Omi a musician based in Vasco said Goa had been in the news
for the wrong reasons and when a fight broke out a rave party in Arpora, no one
was surprised. He said “More than the Government it's the mindset of the people
which is to be blamed here. Typical of a culture where sex education is kind of
taboo yet we have one of largest population in the world. Same thing happens
where these underground parties are concerned, we condemn yet the need to make
fast bucks makes us forget everything. We never realise the severity of it
unless one of our own gets affected”.
As a long time resident of Goa and fervent party hopper said
nothing would change unless there was a political urge and that was now missing
now. One can only hope better sense prevails and this worrying situation is
handled firmly.