Clouds over Sawai festival,organisers unfazed

Medha Khole,director,IMD,Pune,said a well-marked low pressure area over south west may intensify into a deep depression and move,causing rainfall in the state,including the city. “The rain may continue for three-four days. There won’t be a thunderstorm. We have predicted light to moderate rain.” The fest is held in open space on the grounds of New English School,Ramanbaug. “This year,because of unseasonal rainfall till November end,we had discussed possibility of rain during the festival at the planning stage. We are taking adequate measures like using tin roof for the pandal,” said Shreenivas Joshi,president of the Sangeet Prasarak Mandal,which organises the event.

Vasantotsav,another annual music festival scheduled last month at the same venue,was cancelled. “The organisers had asked us whether it would rain during the event,from November 19 to 21. We told them there was possibility of thunderstorm,” said Khole.

Singer and organiser of Vasantostav Rahul Deshpande confirmed he had consulted the IMD. “It was good we cancelled the event,as it rained heavily on November 19 and 21,” he said.