Protests over Sunburn Festival venue
Even other organisations like the Warkari Sampraday, Maratha Seva Sangh and Sambhaji Brigade have come forward to oppose the event.
Pune: The Sunburn Festival finds itself mired in controversy with social activists protesting against the festival being held in Pimpri Chinchwad. They have even dashed off a letter to the culture minister requesting him not to grant organisers permission to hold the event in the area. Even though tickets for the event are being sold on a few websites with Pimpri Chinchwad mentioned as venue, organisers claim they have not made any formal announcement regarding it. The festival will be held from December 28 to 31.
Social activist, Maruti Bhapkar, who has written the letter to Mr Tawade, said, “The Pimpri-Chinchwad area is surrounded by sacred places like Alandi (Saint Dnyaneshwar), Dehu for Saint Tukaram and Chinchwad for Morya Goswami. The Palkhi procession for Pandharpur Vari begins from Alandi and Dehu. Even Shivaji lived in this area, according to history. So to hold the Sunburn festival, which is known for young girls and boys, clad in indecent clothes, dancing together as well as drinking and doing drugs is against the culture of Pimpri Chinchwad.”
He also said, “After the Goa government evicted the Sunburn organisers, they held the event in Kesanand village near Wagholi, causing harm to the hills and cutting trees. The villagers had opposed the festival and hence organisers are now going to hold it at Moshi in Pimpri Chinchwad. But we will not allow it to happen,” he said.
Even other organisations like the Warkari Sampraday, Maratha Seva Sangh and Sambhaji Brigade have come forward to oppose the event.
But Harindra Singh, PR of Sunburn festival, said, “We have been thinking of organising it at Pimpri Chinchwad as the venue is close to Pune, Mumbai, Banglore and Kolhapur. We are in the process of acquiring the necessary permissions, only then can we announce the venue,” he said.
Meanwhile Satish Khadake, chief executive officer, Pimpri-Chinchwad New Town Development Authority, under which Moshi falls, said, “We have received letter asking permission for venue. If they get all necessary permissions - from police, revenue, pollution control board, and so on, we will not have any issue with the venue,” he said.