Goa is the theme state of the 15-day long Surajkund mela this year, beginning from 1 February. Though the tourist state has also contributed around Rs 40 lakh towards the mega event, surprisingly no Goan official was reportedly consulted while preparing the brochure. The Haryana authorities have not even bothered to find out that Goans hate calling themselves Goanese, the word used by their former Portuguese rulers. In fact concerned Goan officials ignore total ignorance over anything taking place at Surajkund. But even the Christian culture here is being distorted.
Boisterous youngsters form groups to create a riot of colours and music.
They move from street to street, gathering momentum as crowds join them. Reacting sharply to the Delhi-based news reports that appeared in the local newspapers, Parrikar immediately summoned the tourism director, instructing him to get the brochure withdrawn from circulation at the venue of the festival, held annually at the outskirts of Delhi. He said the state also would not allow sale of feni at the stalls but only its display in attractive bottles. Parrikar, who has refused to financially contribute to the event further as he is having own reservation about it, says that he was actually planning to withdraw from the festival, but changed his mind as his predecessor had already made several commitments in this regard. He suspects it to be a racket of his IAS officers rather than a serious attempt to promote the state.