Controversial Goa Event Axed Following Public Outcry and Police Intervention
A planned event titled 'Tales of Kamasutra & Christmas Celebration', which was scheduled for next month in Goa, has been officially cancelled. The decision came after widespread public outrage and a formal directive from the Goa Police, who instructed the organisers to halt all preparations.
Police Action and Official Directives
Goa Police promptly took cognisance of the matter and directed the event organisers to cancel the programme. An official statement confirmed that the organisers have also been explicitly instructed to remove all related advertisements from social media platforms. In light of the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities, police stations across the state have been put on alert to maintain vigilance over other scheduled events.
Complaints and Allegations of Tarnishing Goa's Image
The controversy began when Arun Pandey, the Founder and Director of the Goa-based NGO 'Arz' (Anyan Rahit Zindagi), lodged a formal written complaint with the Goa Crime Branch. Pandey expressed severe concern that the event was portraying Goa as a "sex destination." He alleged that the state's image was being deliberately tarnished by irresponsibly linking the names of Osho, Christmas, and meditation to the event.
In a post on the social media platform X, Pandey stated, "It is really unfortunate that in the name of OSHO, Christmas, Meditation... Goa is being advertised as Sex Destination!... I have lodged a written complaint with Goa Crime Branch. Hoping that strict action will be taken against the advertisers & organisers."
Religious Sentiments Outraged
The event also drew sharp criticism from prominent Christian leaders in Goa. Cyril A Fernandes, the President of the Catholic Association of Goa, filed a separate police complaint. He argued that the event profoundly hurt religious sentiments and appeared to promote sexual offences.
Adding his voice to the condemnation, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), issued a strong statement. He described the event advertisement as "deeply offensive to the faith and sentiments of the masses." He asserted that the event irresponsibly associated the sacred Christmas celebration with explicit and entirely unrelated themes, distorting the spiritual essence of the holy season. He urgently called upon the authorities to investigate and for the promoters to withdraw the advertisement immediately.
The swift police action and the unified public and religious opposition have thus led to the event's cancellation, preventing what many considered a deeply inappropriate and offensive programme from taking place in the coastal state.
