Kolkata, Sep 20
Kolkata woke up to thundershowers and heavy rain on Saturday morning, disrupting daily commuters and adding to the concerns of Durga Puja organisers. The Met Office has warned of more thunderstorms later in the day, with rainfall expected to intensify from Sunday, coinciding with Mahalaya.
While Durga Puja officially begins with Shasthi on September 28, the festivities start from Mahalaya (September 21), which marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha, the fortnight-long auspicious period leading up to the festival.
According to the weather department, a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal next week, raising the possibility of rain during the Puja days.
“A low-pressure system may form in the Bay of Bengal, which could impact the weather during Durga Puja. Thundershowers are expected in several South Bengal districts on Saturday and Sunday, with heavy rainfall also likely in North Bengal,” said a Met official.