Ahmedabad: After playing the spoiler on the very first day of the Navratri at many places in Gujarat yesterday, the rain is likely to disrupt the Garbas across state disappointing the Khelaiyas for a few more days as the Met department has now issued two days of heavy rain warning across the state instead of that of one day issued earlier.

The Met Department bulletin today said that owing to the movement of the system over Telangana towards Gujarat and the system over Madhya Pradesh heavy rains are very likely at isolated places over Gujarat region and in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli.on October 4 and 5.

The rising humidity has increased the chances of some late night showers in Ahmedabad on the second consecutive day today even as some places including Aravalli, Rajkot and Valsad districts had already seen some rain during the day.

Yesterday a total of 93 talukas of 23 districts witnessed rains among which Gabrada in Dahod saw the maximum 38 mm. Ahmedabad city also saw 14 mm of rain which with strong winds and thunders spoiled the moods on the most colorful festival of the state on its very first day.

Though some of the participants of the Garbas tried to brave the rains and continued the fun for some time but they had to leave as the rains become stronger.

Meanwhile some of the organizers are now looking for nearby venues with rain protection facility. Some societies are making temporary sheds for the purpose.

Notably, 2016 is a La Nina year during which late spells of rains (during September and October) are a common phenomenon. So far Gujarat has only seen around 82% of the average monsoon rain this season.

Over 50 big public organising of Garba in Ahmedabad alone and many in other cities including Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Surat etc is taking place. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the main state level Garba veneu at GMDC ground here last evening where things went helter-skelter later owing to sudden advent of rains.

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