Odisha: Heavy rain cloud on Ganesh puja, Nuakhai

BHUBANESWAR: Rain may play spoilsport during the Ganesh Chaturthi and Nuakhai celebrations as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy showers across parts of Odisha for the next three days. The IMD on Monday issued a yellow warning for thunderstorm in 15 districts till Thursday.
The forecast comes as bad news for the state as it is preparing to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi on Wednesday and Nuakhai in the western districts on Thursday with much fanfare after a gap of two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have made elaborate arrangements for this year’s Ganesh Utsav as there is no Covid-related restriction in terms of people’s participation in the festivities. We are also planning to deck up the pandal with dazzling lights and other decorative items. Devotees are also likely to visit the pandals in larger numbers this year. But rain may dampen the festivities,” said Raghunath Swain, member of the Unit-IV market area puja committee.
The weather office has said heavy showers may lash Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts on Thursday. Nuakhai is celebrated in a grand way in Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Kandhamal districts.
“Relatives come home for family get-togethers on Nuakhai. But if it rains, then the festivities will certainly suffer. Besides, we planned to finish the last-minute shopping this time as we wanted to celebrate in a grand way after two years. It seems uncertain now if we would be able to enjoy the festive season,” said Debabrata Dash, a native of Sambalpur, who works in Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, the city experienced hot and humid weather on Monday. “As the southwest monsoon is lying at the Himalayan foothills and in a subdued condition in the state, there is a rise in daytime temperature and humidity,” the IMD bulletin said.