Rave Party: Spring Zouk Island Festival controversy heats up, DC demands footage

Rave Party: Spring Zouk Island Festival controversy heats up, DC demands footage

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 7, 2012: The Spring Zouk Island Festival 2012, jointly organized by the state tourism department and the Udupi district administration, has become the source of a heated controversy as many claim that it was a rave party in the guise of an art and music festival, allowing free use of drugs and alcohol. Reportedly, a number of foreigners were spotted half-dressed on St. Mary’s Island, the venue of the festival, adding to the controversy.

 

 

The heated controversy surrounding the island festival has forced the district administration of Udupi to send a report to the department of tourism and the chief minister’s office. Udupi DC M. T. Reju still claims that the media has misrepresented facts and that nothing of the sort reported by the electronic media happened during the festival.

 

 

 

 

The DC has also demanded footage of the festival. Stating that channels showing semi-nude foreign couples in compromising positions have refused to part with their footage, he wanted to know how the district administration can test the footage for authenticity if it has no access to it.

Speaking about the alleged use of drugs at the festival venue, the DC said that the people who entered the venue were frisked at Malpe and also at the entry point to the island. He admitted that cigarettes and liquor was allowed because the excise department had permitted permission to the organizers.

When questioned by reporters, MLA Raghupathi Bhat admitted that some foreigners might have exhibited indecent behavior. Objected to the way the media covered the festival, he demanded to know why the media did not highlight how many people enjoyed the local culture and the music. Stating that the district administration is organizing such a festival for the first time to promote tourism, he said that such mistakes will not be allowed in future.

Stating that the district administration rented the venue, he said that he did not spot anything indecent or objectionable when he twice visited the venue.

However, certain local people say that foreigners were dressed skimpily and appeared intoxicated. While some admitted that some foreigners were seen rolling cigarettes, indicating use of drugs, they said that they did not see the scenes shown on television.

Shiroor mutt seer attacks Spring Zouk Island Festival
Meanwhile, Swami Laxmivara Theertha of Shiroor Mutt, has severely criticized the 3-day festival, stating that it does not reflect the culture of the temple town.

Stating that he had visited the venue on Sunday, he said that he observed foreigners consuming liquor and exhibiting promiscuity. He said that he met the DC, who was also at the venue, are expressed his displeasure at the way the festival was organized. 

He also said that the DC said that these things were unforeseen and that the mistakes will not be repeated. The DC had also stated that the festival was organized to promote tourism. Further, the seer said that he had informed the DC that such happenings cannot be tolerated in “the land of Krishna.”

Protest march
Nityananda Volakkadu, the convener of the Nagarika Samithi, organized a protest march from Poornaprajna Sanskrit College to Car Street. A semi-clad mannequin was taken in the procession and was dressed later. The women devotees of the Hare Krishna movement also participated in this procession.

The members of the Youth Congress also protested near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the Malpe Beach.

Speaking on the occasion, M. B. Boralingaiah, the superintendent of police for Udupi, said that the excise department had permitted the use of liquor, but as there was no reported case of drug abuse, the police have not registered any case under Narcotics, Drugs, and Psychotropic Act.