Light rains may bless Ahmedabad today

As light rains have been forecast for the city on Tuesday, it should bring cheer to many who await 'Ami Chhatna' (nectar-like drops of rain) while Lord Jagannath rests in the chariot during Rath Yatra.

It is widely considered to be a sign of God's blessing to Gujarat!
With a seasonal total of 232.9 mm in Ahmedabad which is 27.9 mm above over the normal rainfall, the weather in the city is forecasted to remain breezy too, which promises a pleasant Rath Yatra.

Setting the right environment for the deity's procession, the maximum temperature in the city dipped to 34.8 °C on Monday -- making it colder by 1 degree than its normal temperature during the corresponding period of the last 40 years.

Though there has been a subsequent decrease in rainfall in the last two days, thundershowers and a few rain spells are expected on Tuesday, the state weather office has said.

Dr Kamaljit Ray, director, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD),
Gujarat, said: "There is a subsequent decrease in natural mechanism fetching rains over the state, hence there would be no heavy rains that can disturb the Rath Yatra procession in the city. However, light spells are forecasted at many spots in the city and in the state during the next 24 hours."

One of the Jagannathji Mandir volunteers, Dhiren Raval, said, "We look forward to the rains during Rath Yatra as it is considered a blessing from the lord." Last year, there were no rains, just scanty drops during the procession."