Nip in Delhi air on Mahalaya

The maximum temperature in the city, according to weathermen, dipped by 7.6 degree Celsius on Friday in comparison to Thursday’s 33.7 degree Celsius. 

‘The maximum temperature on Friday was recorded at 26.1 degree Celsius which was eight notches below normal and minimum was 22.5 degree Celsius which was 0.7 degree Celsius less than Thursday’s minimum temperature but one point above normal,’ said M Duraisamy, in-charge of weather forecasting at the Regional Meteorological Centre. 

He added slight rain in the city which was recorded at 2.1 mm by 5.30 pm on Friday brought down temperature of the day significantly.

‘It’s a pleasant gift of Goddess Durga to the city a day before Navratra. The first day of Navratra, installation of Kalash, will be performed on Saturday which marks the onset of winter festive season,’ said Arjun Tiwari, a priest in the city. 

The Navratra, which is celebrated in the city with much fervour especially in Bengali community, will culminate on 13 October. The performance of Ramlila ballads across the city has already started, which ends with the killing of Ravana and his brothers by Lord Ram on the occasion of  Vijaya Dashmi or Dussehera which is falling on 13 or 14 October this year.

Meanwhile, weathermen have predicted the city will have the longest monsoon this year. 

They say 111 days of monsoon season was recorded in the city in 1956, but this year delayed withdrawal of monsoon may just break that record. Delhi, normally, has 85 days of monsoon season and most delayed monsoon was recorded on 13 October in 1956 and 1959.