Sunburn fest kicks off to youths delight

Hyderabad: Sunburn festival kicked off at Gachibowli Stadium on Friday amidst applause from youth and protests by the Congress against permission granted to the music festival. The stadium was chock-a-block though the entry was quite expensive.

Only those who had valid tickets were allowed inside where high-power light beams danced around as DJ Kygo belted out high octane music. The programme has been brought to Hyderabad by Percept Live where everything is unlimited from music to drinks. There were allegations that the youths used drugs.

Eyewitnesses at the stadium said teenage girls were seen more in number entering the stadium. "If you have ticket you are in.

If you don’t, get lost... no one is asking whether one is minor or major," one eyewitness said, adding that an ex-serviceman was seen entering the stadium with a gun but it is learnt that he had licence for it. Though the Congress had threatened agitation, nothing of the sort had happened with the police warning the trouble-makers of action if they resorted to any misadventure.

Congress leader A Revanth Redy demanded cancellation of permission, it was former MP V Hanumantha Rao made a representation to the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate urging him not to allow the show as it would be nothing but spoiling the youth.

The Congress party leaders expressed concern over the show further accelerating the spread of drug culture in Hyderabad city which is already in trouble.