“The police may argue that they were merely implementing a court order. Legally, they have a responsibility to do so. But the manner, timing and apparent selectiveness of enforcement have raised legitimate questions that the government cannot simply brush aside.
Across Panaji, police teams seized DJ consoles and sound equipment in areas such as Patto and St Inez. Their action triggered protests and tense confrontations with youth groups in Mala and Tonca. While some organisers voluntarily switched off their music at midnight, others resisted the action.
But what needs to be understood is the sentiment behind these celebrations.
For several days, sometimes weeks, young people across Goa work tirelessly to prepare their Narkasur effigies. They invest their time, money and energy in designing, constructing and presenting these figures. For many, it is not merely a competition or a display of creativity. It is an emotional and cultural expression associated with one of Goa’s most celebrated festivals.”
Goa’s midnight crackdown on traditional Narkasur celebrations raises an uncomfortable question: Is noise pollution a concern only when ordinary Goans take to the streets, while commercial nightlife continues to enjoy a different set of rules?
Goa has once again found itself caught between the letter of the law and the spirit of its traditions. This time, the controversy surrounds the traditional burning of Narkasur effigies, an integral part of Diwali celebrations, and the police action to enforce the Bombay High Court’s restrictions on loudspeakers and sound amplification systems between midnight and 6 am.
The police may argue that they were merely implementing a court order. Legally, they have a responsibility to do so. But the manner, timing and apparent selectiveness of enforcement have raised legitimate questions that the government cannot simply brush aside.
Across Panaji, police teams seized DJ consoles and sound equipment in areas such as Patto and St Inez. Their action triggered protests and tense confrontations with youth groups in Mala and Tonca. While some organisers voluntarily switched off their music at midnight, others resisted the action.
But what needs to be understood is the sentiment behind these celebrations.
For several days, sometimes weeks, young people across Goa work tirelessly to prepare their Narkasur effigies. They invest their time, money and energy in designing, constructing and presenting these figures. For many, it is not merely a competition or a display of creativity. It is an emotional and cultural expression associated with one of Goa’s most celebrated festivals.
Narkasur night is the culmination of that effort. It is the one night when these young groups come together, celebrate their creations and participate in a tradition passed down through generations.
Naturally, when police teams arrive with instructions to switch off music and seize equipment, frustration is inevitable.
The question is not whether the law should be respected. It must be. The question is whether the government has made any serious effort to balance the legal restrictions with the cultural realities of Goa.
More importantly, why does noise pollution suddenly become such an urgent policing priority during Narkasur celebrations?
Goa’s coastal belt has been struggling with uncontrolled nightlife, loud music and noise pollution for years. In several coastal areas, residents complain of sleepless nights because of music emanating from nightclubs, bars and entertainment establishments. These are not isolated complaints. They have become part of the everyday experience of people living in certain tourism-heavy areas.
Where is the same urgency when residents complain about loud music from commercial establishments? Where are the midnight inspections, equipment seizures and decisive police interventions when noise pollution continues beyond permissible hours in nightlife zones?
If the law says loudspeakers and sound amplification systems cannot operate between midnight and 6 am, that restriction must apply equally to everyone. A DJ playing at a nightclub cannot be treated differently from a DJ playing during a traditional community celebration.
The police cannot be strict with local youth and accommodating towards commercial establishments. The law cannot have one interpretation for cultural celebrations and another for businesses that earn money from nightlife.
This is where the government faces a serious credibility problem.
Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai has criticised the government and the Advocate General’s office, alleging that they failed to adequately defend the cultural significance of pre-dawn music associated with Narkasur celebrations. His criticism raises another important issue: Did the government make a genuine attempt to place the cultural context before the appropriate legal forum and explore a reasonable solution?
Cultural traditions cannot automatically override environmental and noise regulations. But neither should the government treat cultural practices as inconveniences that can be dealt with through police action alone.
There was an opportunity to engage with organisers well before Diwali. The government could have consulted youth groups, local committees, police officials and legal experts to work out a practical arrangement within the framework of the law. Instead, the enforcement exercise appears to have left many young people feeling humiliated and frustrated.
The larger concern is the growing disconnect between governance and the people. Goa celebrates its cultural identity, promotes its festivals and showcases its traditions to tourists. Yet, when young Goans come together to celebrate one of their most important traditions, the government appears unable to provide clarity or a workable solution.
This is not an argument for unrestricted noise. Residents have a right to peaceful sleep. Patients, senior citizens, children and people living near celebration venues must also be protected. Traditional celebrations cannot become an excuse for disturbing entire neighbourhoods.
But the same principle must apply to nightclubs, beachside establishments, commercial events and every other source of noise pollution.
If the police can seize DJ consoles from Narkasur organisers, they must demonstrate the same determination against establishments violating noise regulations throughout the year. If authorities can act against youth groups in Panaji, they must also act against powerful commercial operators wherever violations are established.
Selective enforcement is not law enforcement. It is an invitation to public resentment.
The government must also clarify whether it approached the legal authorities in time to seek appropriate directions or a lawful accommodation for the traditional celebrations. If it did not, it owes the people an explanation.
Goa’s youth should not be made to feel that their traditions are expendable while commercial nightlife is allowed to flourish. The government must protect both the right to celebrate and the right to live in a peaceful environment.
The victory of good over evil, which Narkasur symbolises, should not become a night of confrontation between the police and the people.
The real test of governance is not how firmly the law is enforced against the weakest, but whether it is enforced equally against everyone.
