Ahmedabad: Even as drizzling and light rain occurred at some places in the state including Ahmedabad on the very first day of Navratri today, a warning issued by the met department has raised concernes about rain playing spoilsport during this most favourite and lively festival of Gujarat.

The met department bulletin has issued heavy rains warning for isolated places over Gujarat region, Saurashtra and in Diu on October 4. It has also forecast light to moderate rains at many places in the next five days.

The change in weather has been attributed to the low pressure system over neighbouring Western Madhya Pradesh owing to which Gandhinagar, Anand, Vadodara, Bhavnagar and some other places witnessed light rain today as well.

The increased humidity is also an indicator of rains.

2016 is a La Nina year during which late spells of rains are a common phenomenon. So far Gujarat has only seen 81.89% of the average monsoon rain this season.

Over 50 big public organizing of Garba in Ahmedabad alone has been planned this year. In other cities including Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Surat etc also Garba is held with large participation. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the main state level Garba veneu at GMDC ground here this evening.

Navratri is of 10 days (Oct 1 to 10) this year instead of usual nine owing to the first tithi (Pratipada) being on two days.

DeshGujarat