Anant Chaturdashi: Pune likely to see light to moderate showers today

IMD has predicted September would see above normal rainfall with extreme weather events also.

Kashyapi said that a well-marked low pressure is likely to strengthen and form into a depression, moving away south Rajasthan and adjoining North Gujarat Upper Air circulation in North East Arabian Sea and adjoining Gujarat is likely to hold some moisture in the area. “Due to the rains, visibility would be effected with partially slippery road. Mostly light rains may not create much problem to the devotees in the immersion procession,” he said.

Ganesh Mandals are being lined up on the Laxmi Road for the immersion procession on Saturday, the day of Anant Chaturdashi. The procession this year is expected to be shorter than usual as the police have appealed to mandals to curtail the process.

Usually, the procession starts when the five Manache Ganapatis viz Kasba Peth, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulsibaug and Kesariwada mandals cross the Belbaug Chowk and process for the procession.

Laxmi Road, Tilak Road and other important arterial roads are normally stopped for traffic in order to allow the mandals to carry out their procession.

The Ganesh Visarjan procession is marked by display of traditional dhol tasha pathaks as well as other traditional art forms. Many group take on themselves to decorate the roads with rangoli and citizens normally line up to witness the processions.

September marks the last monsoon month, and since the start of the month, Pune district has reported a large deficit in terms of rainfall. IMD has forecast a 20 per cent deficit in rainfall this week, instead of the 45 mm of rainfall the district has received. Both July and August has been marked with less than normal rainfall.