By Florine Roche

Mangaluru, Dec 31: New Year parties are eagerly awaited by one and all and this is a worldwide phenomena. But for Mangalureans these New Year parties have turned out to be a damp squib.

The Police Commissioner has issued strict instructions to party- goers, to the general public, hotels, restaurants, clubs and resorts to strictly adhere to some of the guidelines that include closing all New Year parties by 12 midnight. The commissioner has also issued strict instructions banning celebrations in beaches. Those organizing New Year parties are required to seek advance permission for the same.

There is also the threat from Bajrang Dal looming large as these outfits have sought a ban on New Year parties and have even warned the police that they will be held responsible for any untoward incident. Knowing these elements and taking a cue from some of the past incidents involving them nobody wants to take a risk.

 
File photo

However, die hard arty buffs and revelers therefore found an easy way out rather than celebrate a dry New Year eve sans all the fun and frolic. Many Mangalurean families including the young crowd have opted to go out of Mangaluru to cities like Madikeri, Bengaluru, Goa and Pune to celebrate New Year rather than stay in Mangaluru and forego the fun usually associated with New Year parties.

With the police department issuing several instructions and strictures to party organizers and hotels and restaurant many feel that there is no fun left in New Year Parties. There is a general feeling that the police issued strict instructions following the threat issued by Bajrang Dal and VHP.

Prakash Pandeshwar, Tulu film director and producer points out that the police have escaped from their responsibilities by bowing down to the threats of the hardliners. “The New Year party begins at 12 but here the district administration has issued notice to end all parties by 12 midnight. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure peace and prevent any untoward incidents in the name of protecting our culture. Police should have arrested the trouble shooters and those who issued threats rather than succumb to their diktat,” Prakash Pandeshwar said.

He further contented that Mangalureans are going out to other places and it has an adverse impact on the economy of the city. “Businessmen were waiting for the yearend to boost their business which has suffered due to the impact of GST and demonetisation. Unfortunately, Mangalureans have been forced to go to other cities during the year end due to the curbs imposed on New Year Celebrations and this has affected local business in a big way,” Prakash Pandeshwar stated.

24 year old Tejas, a C A aspirant has opted to go out of Mangaluru for the second year in a row. With a busy schedule round the year Tejas loves to freak out during year end but finds Mangalore unsuitable for such fun. “New Year Party usually begins after 10 and the real fun is past the midnight. We want to enjoy music and also dance to the D J tunes. There is no fun at being in Mangaluru to celebrate New Year because when the fun really begins we have to home. Moreover we cannot feel free and have fun when threats from hard line groups loom large. So I have come to Madikeri with my friends to have a fun-filled New Year party says Tejas, who celebrated the New Year in Goa in 2017.

Another youngster who echoed similar views is Achal Kumar, who has come to Goa with his family to enjoy the Goan flavour of New Year celebrations. He says Goa offers fun unlimited which we cannot even dream in Mangalore. “I came to God with friends last year and got to know what New Year party really is. This year we are attending a party where the crowd is about 5,000 in an open ground and the fun runs for 36 hours. The entry fee is Rs 6,000 and we can come leave and join the party any time. For the same price in Mangaluru we can have fun only for say 5 to 6 hours and with all those restrictions in Mangaluru I don’t think there is any fun left in having a New Year party”, says Achal. Achals’s friend Desmond Ryan D Souza has come to Goa for the second year running with his group of five friends as he feels Goa is ‘the’ place to enjoy New Year party.

There are many Mangalureans who can to afford to move out of Mangaluur for various reasons and they have no other options but to adhere to the instructions. However, hotels, restaurants, pubs and resorts of Mangaluru are feeling the pinch, as it has affected their business in a big way.

Mangaluru is emerging as a cosmopolitan city as it is increasingly embracing people from different parts of the country and also from the globe. Giving a free hand to the fundamentalists will have wider ramifications affecting the progress of our district.