Rave parties: The fad of GenNext
Lack of parental control, easy availability of drugs, the new culture of chilling out — whatever that might entail, disposable income and cut-throat competition at the work place have all contributed to “Rave parties”, held mostly on the city’s outskirts at temporarily isolated venues, open fields, sea shores or vacant buildings
The atmosphere is electric, the air balmy and the music jarring. The all-night private parties at cellars, clubs and resorts on the outskirts of the city are the typical venue for the latest fad — “Rave parties”.
The raid on a rave party in Pune, on Sunday has put the spotlight back on the rave party culture of Mumbai. These parties feature music with a fast and pounding beat, with enough dope and booze on the house.
According to officials of Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC), such “rave bashes” are gaining popularity, particularly among teenagers and young adults who are hard on drugs.
According to a senior police officer, raves are held at temporarily isolated venues, open fields, sea shores or vacant buildings on the city’s outskirts, mostly on weekends. “Attendance can range from 30 “ravers” in a club to tens in an open field. While techno music and light shows are essential to raves, hard drugs such as cocaine, Methylene Dioxy Methamphet Amine — , Ketamine and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide have become an integral part of the rave culture,” observed a senior cop.
“Raves” are characterised by high entrance fee, rampant drug use and “chill rooms”, where ravers go to cool down and often engage in open sexual activities, says a senior officer, from the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mumbai, seeking anonymity.
Most youngsters who are a part of such gangs say that it’s their way to “distress”. “Once you enter the rave-chain, such parties are passed on through word-of-mouth or SMSes,” says Mihir Gawde, (name changed), an advertising professional who regularly attends rave parties.
Insiders rubbish off claims that orgies are rampant at raves. “Sometimes people do get sexual, but those are rare cases. Many people get their spouses along, and are in it for the music and the high,” says a media executive, requesting anonymity.
The most recent raid on a rave party took place on September 24, 2006 at a farm house at Gorai Road, Borivali. The ANC arrested 80 people and 13 drug suppliers. Boys and girls from “affluent families” were among those arrested, police officials had revealed. According to sources, 50gm charas and 10-15ml LSD were seized from each individual.
According to cops, the city is turning into a transit point of drugs. “The source of drugs at such parties shrouded in secrecy. Our officers are always on the toes to gather information on them,” said DCP (ANC), Dilip Shrirao.
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