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.
