Once upon a time, Goans used to organise a number of traditional beat shows, open-air dances annually in most villages of Goa, especially in the month of May (Summer) in the late seventies/eighties/early nineties and which used to begin from 10 pm at night and end at 6 am in the morning without any time restrictions. Besides the very popular 3-night Calangute beat show held right on the beach, the open-air dances which were very much in demand during those days were the Milagres Nite, Romeos Nite, Foxes Nite, Melons Nite, Nite of the Goats, etc. whereby a number of Goans from different parts of Goa (including from around the globe) used to specially attend with their families in large numbers and share the bond of love/brotherhood almost every year in a truly Goan style.
It was really fun as after a hectic entire day busy work schedule, most Goans used to come to start one entire night to enjoy with their loved ones and to let their hair down listening to some great music played by popular Goan beat-groups of those days like Sparks, Beat-4, Sting, Syndicate, Big City Band, India, MuzikMaan, Sky, Symphony, etc, and to have a great time.
Even the foreigners, as well as domestic tourists used to flock, take part in large numbers and enjoy these open-air dances in the company of Goans during those days to get an experience of a truly Goanese feel. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore as our government giving the Supreme Court order excuse mischievously imposed a controversial draconian Madhya Pradesh Act or law from this neighbouring state in the nineties to stop music from being played after 10 p.m. at night and in the bargain destroyed all our unique traditional beat shows and dances (including the uniqueness of our ‘Tiatrs’, ‘Nataks’ ‘Zagors’, Christian night weddings, etc) in Goa ones for all.
Well, I personally feel that if our politicians have the strong will then they can do almost anything in Goa. Why, didn’t our politicians bring their own ordinance and save the illegal portion or structure of a prominent hotel despite the demolition orders of the Supreme Court of India? Now, why can’t the same politicians make similar efforts and come out with their own ordinance or formulate laws that suit Goa and try to save all our aged-old customs/traditions of our unique state ones for all?
I think that our politicians should know that Goa is a hot tourist destination, world famous for its unique Indo-Latin live music/night life culture and keeping this in mind they should seriously do something to really revive our aged-old customs/traditions and also to rejuvenate/promote tourism in a big way in the years to come. Hope better sense prevails. Viva Goa, Viva Goenkar.
