Sound of music
Most Goans, like most humans, are ardent lovers of music. Music is one of the fine arts, and is often held as the defining qualities of cultured upbringing. One of the reasons why tourists choose Goa over other destinations is, some would say, the Lusitanian flavour, the good naturedness and invariably the localfolk and western music. But does what is now trumpeted as music have the potential to destroy both the lively music culture of Goa, and tourism, by promoting mega festivals and inviting a particular brand of tourists?
This season, North Goa is in for the worst blast of high decibel sound that is slated to shatter the peace ahead of the ‘silent night’ promised at Christmas. In fact no part of Goa would have been subjected to such sound blast ever in its history.
There are takers for such Electronic Dance Music Festivals, it is clear, from the massive online booking for such events.But they key is that this true irrespective of where they are held. It would be not altogether wrong, therefore, to presume that there are factors extraneous to music due to which these events hold the magnetism that they do for the young and even the not so young.
Moreover, even before the organizers secure permissions to hold the festival from the legitimate authorities, they have sold a bulk of the tickets — this implies that they are so confident of getting their way on permissions that they care two hoots for the authorities. Needless to say, that this is another indication of a soft State which itself does not ensure that the law of the land is seen to be respected.
The ‘particular public’ response to such festivals should not also be seen as a barometer for the musical content of such events — it is the ‘been there done that’ boast among the Facebook generation which is the pull factor. Anyone who frequents these festivals gains bragging rights on social media.
Now all of that would be fine if events whether musical or cultural also ensured no illegalities took place at these premises. A beeline of so called celebrities have smeared the name of Goa such that more and more of this tribe comes to Goa to ‘do it all’ bite the and weave fantastic tales of their escapades which are far from reality, and are, to say the least, demeaning to self-respecting Goans. We are not an everything goes State.
Questions therefore arise ~why does Bardez require not one, but three Electronic Dance Music festivals? Why did Percept CMD make allegations of extortion? Why is there rivalry among politicians in either supporting or pushing out festivals?
Every year there is a threat held out to EDMs and the like re safety issues et.,al but one wonders whether backdoor ‘negotiations’ finally win the day for them. And going into the year-end in such circumstances, big question that haunts Goans is whether in all this sound and cacophony, is it the last bugle for Goa?
