India is currently in the process of slowly limping back to recovery. Restrictions are being gradually lifted, with careful considerations and strict measures in place to maintain India’s control over the virus.
A lot of once-normal things are all impossible to do at this point of time. The biggest examples being live shows and festivals. November to December is peak festival season, but for obvious reasons, almost every festival has decided to host a stay-at-home virtual fest. For example, the NH7 Weekender still managed to secure an exceptional lineup of international and domestic artistes for its home-fest. But Sunburn doesn’t want to do that.
The festival will still be conducting its public festival in Goa, but with safety measures. They will reportedly only allow 20% of the usual capacity, have thermal scanning, sanitization, and other measures.
They captioned their post: “We have thought long & hard about how to make Sunburn happen this year. Eventually, we came to the conclusion that life must begin again, and the show must go on. We are grateful to have the support of the authorities in this.”
They added, “Fan safety is our utmost priority this year, and for that reason Sunburn Goa 2020 will be a different experience from what you are used to. This is a very limited capacity event, operating at 20% of the total festival capacity. We will be following social distancing norms with every attendee having their designated space in front of the main stage. New entry & exit protocols will be in place to ensure your safe passage to the festival.”
While some people were happy about the comeback, a majority of people took to Twitter to criticise the move, claiming it is still dangerous and not the right time.
Scroll through some of the criticisms:
So we will be ending 2020 with the biggest joke of the year. Maintaining ‘social distancing’ at an EDM festival while partying and mingling and a gathering of 12k people will be considered a small number.
#SunburnGoa2020— vaishnavi 🍉 (@kasaakaii) November 2, 2020
Seriously in 2020 this is last thing in my mind to visit music festival and be part of super spreader 🙄🙄🙄 #SunburnGoa2020 #concert https://t.co/xqPvqgxsnT
— Ronak Desai (@RonakFiskaz) November 1, 2020
It will be hilarious if the title sponsor of #SunburnGoa2020 is @corona the beer 🍻
— Garv Malik (@malikgarv) November 1, 2020
I am all for business and this is critical for the economy for chugging along. Bit not for ONCE can I agree that #SunburnGoa2020 is more important that the health of our people and economy. It can potential be a super spreader organisers habe taken measures???? Bollocks.
— Steve Dias (@SteveDias10) November 2, 2020
I fixed the #SunburnGoa2020 poster.
Please use this going forward.
Warmly! pic.twitter.com/XhcfTDYbbM
— AML (@alysha_lobo) November 2, 2020
When families are celebrating festivals from a distance, ritual trips to home are cancelled, school & work remains online, weddings are short & small with highly curtailed guest list, #SunburnGoa2020 seems like an entirely unnecessary & insulting proposition. What absurdity
— Kanya of East (@That_Desi_Girl) November 2, 2020
Beautiful vibes in the middle of the pandemic, with a tagline that says ‘Live Again’?
You’ve got to be kidding me.#CancelSunburnGoa2020 https://t.co/w3IyYiP6uH
— Raj (@lookdoyousee) November 1, 2020
Sunburn Announces Return Of Goa Festival, Fans Criticise The Decision