“Sunburn Festival” which was to be organized in Kyaarki area on 28, 29 night Cancel by Narendra Nagar SDM

The administration has cancelled the permission of Sunburn Festival to be held at Neer Ganga Resort in Kyaarki area.

Narendranagar/ It was being held for the first time in Rishikesh, this kind of festival has been held in Goa.

Hindu organizations had termed Sunburn as an event challenging culture and pilgrimage city.

The Sunburn festival, scheduled to take place on September 28th and 29th at the Neer Ganga Resort in Neer village, Tehri district, has been canceled by SDM Narendranagar Devendra Singh Negi due to strong opposition from local saints and social workers.

On Friday, representatives from Hindu organizations, religious leaders, and young social workers met with SDM Negi in Narendranagar to express their concerns about the event. They presented a memorandum outlining their objections, citing concerns about cultural sensitivity and potential negative social impacts.

The decision to cancel the festival came after the event’s promotional materials, featuring a foreign female DJ promoting the event in Rishikesh, sparked controversy and widespread criticism. The DJ later removed the video from her social media channels.

The cancellation of the Sunburn festival marks a significant victory for those who opposed the event, highlighting the importance of community voice and cultural preservation in decision-making processes.

The Sunburn festival, scheduled to take place in the sacred region of Devbhoomi, known for its picturesque mountain ranges and the holy river Ganga, has been canceled due to widespread opposition from local saints, social workers, and community members.

Youth social worker Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Bhardwaj was the first to raise concerns about the appropriateness of such an event in the region, which is considered a spiritual and cultural center for Hinduism. He argued that the festival’s promotional materials were disrespectful to the region’s religious and cultural heritage.

Rishikesh, a renowned yoga and religious city in Devbhoomi, is a gathering place for saints and devotees year-round. The Ganga River, revered as a sacred symbol of salvation in Hinduism, flows through the region. Organizing a festival like Sunburn was seen as a direct affront to the cultural and religious values associated with this area.

A delegation of saints, social workers, and community members from Rishikesh, Muni ki Reti, and Tapovan met with SDM Narendranagar Devendra Singh Negi to express their opposition to the festival. After hearing their concerns, the SDM announced the cancellation of the event.

The delegation included Mahamandaleshwar Swami Dayaram Das, Purushottam Kothari, Dharmacharya (VHP), Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Bhardwaj, Shubham Nautiyal, Rajendra Prasad Pandey (District President, VHP), Usha Kothari, Vinod Kuliyal, Rajesh, Nitish Chandra Khanduri, Acharya Purushottam, and Anand Bahuguna.

A coalition of local leaders, religious figures, and community members in Devbhoomi have successfully opposed the Sunburn festival, preventing it from taking place in the sacred region.

Mahamandaleshwar Dayaramdas Maharaj, a prominent religious leader, expressed strong opposition to the event, stating that the region is a land of saints and should not be subjected to Western-style cultural influences and vulgarity. He commended SDM Narendranagar for canceling the festival’s permit.

Rajendra Prasad Pandey, District President of the BHU, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of preserving the region’s peaceful character and preventing future occurrences of such events.

Young social worker Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Bhardwaj highlighted the potential negative impacts of the festival, including its promotion of nudity, alcohol, and other harmful behaviors. He emphasized the need to protect the region’s youth from such influences.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad, Hindu Vahini, and Bajrang Dal joined the protest, expressing their opposition to the festival’s commercialization of the sacred region.

Purushottam Kothari, District Dharmacharya of the VHP, emphasized the importance of preserving Tapovan as a place of peace and religious devotion. He raised concerns about the environmental and cultural implications of the festival, particularly the potential pollution of the Ganga River.

Maiti Andolan chief Kusum Joshi also expressed strong opposition to the festival, citing concerns about its promotion of harmful behaviors and its negative impact on the region’s reputation.

The successful cancellation of the Sunburn festival is a testament to the power of community action and the importance of protecting cultural and religious heritage. It sends a clear message that Devbhoomi will not tolerate events that undermine its values and traditions.

Sunburn Festival: A Controversial Event in India

The Sunburn Festival, a commercial electronic dance music festival, has been a contentious topic in India since its inception. Founded by entrepreneur Shailendra Singh of Percept Limited, the festival has faced criticism for its perceived Western influences and potential negative social impacts.

The popularity of electronic music in India dates back to the late 1980s, with Goa emerging as a hub for free parties, DJs, arts, crafts, and food stalls. This vibrant scene continued to thrive on beaches like Vagator, Anjuna, and Arambol throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

However, the Sunburn Festival, with its larger scale and commercial focus, has attracted both praise and criticism. Proponents argue that the festival promotes tourism and economic development, while critics contend that it undermines traditional Indian values and culture.

The Sunburn Festival, founded in 2007 by Shailendra Singh, has evolved into a globally recognized electronic dance music event. Initially held in Candolim Beach, Goa, the festival quickly gained popularity, featuring renowned international DJs like Carl Cox, Above & Beyond, and Axwell.

Over the years, Sunburn expanded its reach, moving to Pune in 2016 and returning to Vagator in 2019. The festival’s multi-stage format allows for simultaneous performances by various artists, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for attendees.

Sunburn’s international acclaim is evident in its comparison to major festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultra. CNN ranked it among the top 10 festivals worldwide in 2009, further solidifying its reputation.

Beyond its flagship event in India, Sunburn has expanded internationally, organizing festivals in countries like Sri Lanka. The festival’s lineup has featured a diverse array of world-class DJs, including Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix, Hardwell, David Guetta, Axwell, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Paul Van Dyk, Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, Afrojack, Pete Tong, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Deadmau5, Carl Cox, DJ Snake, and Skazi.