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Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan leads anti-drug campaign against Sunburn
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Students and citizens across Mumbai Region oppose drug-laced rave culture, call to protect Bharat’s youth and values.
Mumbai: As Mumbai prepares to host the Sunburn music festival from 19 to 21 December 2025, protests have intensified across the city and neighbouring areas. On the one hand, the Maharashtra Police has launched a campaign against narcotic substances, while on the other, preparations are underway to welcome the ‘Sunburn Festival,’ which has a background linked to drug consumption and trafficking. Activists of the Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan (Anti-drug Awareness Campaign), along with students, youth groups, and social organisations, are demanding that the event be cancelled, as it promotes drug abuse, obscenity, and public nuisance.
The protests have taken place across college campuses in Mumbai as well as in Vasai and Virar, with hundreds signing memoranda and participating in public awareness drives.
Colleges back ‘Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan’
In Mumbai and neighbouring areas, the Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan has launched an awareness drive opposing the festival. Many colleges have come forward to support the movement, stating that an event with a history of drug abuse should not be welcomed at a time when Maharashtra Police is actively fighting narcotics trafficking.
The campaign includes:
- QR-based public feedback and signature drives
- Distribution of awareness pamphlets
- Street outreach and public announcements
- Social media awareness
- Information sessions inside college campuses
A signature campaign demanding cancellation of the festival was conducted at New English School Junior College (Vasai) and NSM Degree College (Vile Parle). Hundreds of students signed and supported the protest. Awareness pamphlets were distributed and students scanned QR codes printed on leaflets to register their protest digitally. So far, awareness has been conducted across 34 colleges and coaching classes.
Prof. Shubhada Chavan of the NSM Degree College, Vile Parle (East), stressed that past Sunburn events in Goa saw rampant drug consumption, and even suspected drug overdose deaths. She cited reports of ‘rape drugs like ketamine’ found at festival venues, arguing that Mumbai must not allow such risks to repeat. Students in Mumbai are demanding the festival be cancelled in the interest of youth safety.
Official memoranda have been submitted to Mumbai District Collector Aanchal Sood Goyal, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Chaudhary, Additional Police Commissioner Abhimanyu Deshmukh, and officials from Mumbai Port Trust, BMC and the Anti-Narcotics Department.
Vasai-Virar supports drive against drug-linked festival
In the Palghar district, the Nasha Virodhi Sangharsh Abhiyan conducted awareness sessions and pamphlet distribution at Annasaheb Vartak College (Vasai), Yogeshwari Classes (Vasai West), Shri Shanidham Temple (Tungareswar), Datta Mandir, Umele (Naigaon), Architect Shailesh Mistry’s office.
Memoranda have also been submitted to two local MLAs — Rajan Naik (Nalasopara) and Sneha Dubey (Vasai).
Students from Vasai expressed strong support for the campaign. Vandana Prajapati, student of New English School & Junior College said that such festivals mislead youth, increase drug trafficking, noise disturbance and even crimes like rape, and therefore must be stopped immediately to ensure women’s safety and protect the nation.
Student Vedika Patil said the festival must be shut down because “rape drugs are sold at such places,” adding that Indian citizens have a duty to prevent such immoral activities from entering society.
Virar: Mass protest against Sunburn
In Virar West, the campaign turned into a public agitation. Youth, citizens and several local leaders participated, including, Hindutva activist Diptesh Patil; former corporator Harshada Patil; trustee of Divaneshwar Mahadev Temple Jagdish Shastri.
Protesters carried placards opposing the festival and signed a large signature petition demanding that Sunburn be banned, and also raised slogans against the festival.
Local MLAs assure action on Sunburn concerns
In Bhandup West, a memorandum opposing Sunburn was submitted to Shiv Sena MLA Ashok Patil by Satish Sonar on behalf of the Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan. MLA Ashok Patil stated that, “If time permits, I will try to raise this issue in the Assembly with the support of other legislators.” A similar memorandum was also submitted to BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha of Mulund.
Campaign representatives also submitted a memorandum to Laxman Raut, Secretary of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and Deputy Secretary Smt. Vandana Jain, expressing concerns over the festival’s history of drug abuse, obscenity and alleged tax evasion. According to activists, such a controversial event should not be permitted when society is seeking to protect youth from harmful influences.
Protest in Nerul demands immediate cancellation of the Sunburn festival
Navi Mumbai: The Sunburn festival also faced resistance from residents of Navi Mumbai. Activists of the Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan held a protest outside Nerul railway station, joined by youth and patriotic citizens. Volunteers from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (Nerul), Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti also participated in the agitation.
Miss Shreya Nalawade, representing the Nasha Virodhi Sangharsh Abhiyan, stated that events like the Sunburn Festival must be permanently expelled for the safety of India’s youth. She said that EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festivals like Sunburn push youngsters towards drug addiction and glorify Western moral decay. She warned that if the youth of Mumbai fall prey to addiction and Western degeneration, Maharashtra will soon face a situation akin to that depicted in ‘Udta Punjab’. She urged the government not to gamble with the lives of the youth for the sake of revenue.
Protesters raised slogans such as against the Sunburn festival, and held placards opposing the festival. A signature campaign was also conducted on the spot, and many citizens signed the petition to register their opposition.
At the protest, participants questioned, “Why has the administration granted permission to a festival that evades government taxes and pushes the youth towards drugs?” The Nasha Virodhi Sangharsha Abhiyan demanded that the Sunburn Festival be immediately cancelled and permanently banned from the soil of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
