Guwahati, April 6: Pandal-hoppers might have to take the occasional cover, from the odd shower that is, while they sway to the beats on stage, but in general, Rongali Bihu this year is expected to be a "pleasant" affair weather wise.
The Met office here has predicted more rain in the next 48 hours, and people here are keeping their fingers crossed for the weather pattern to remain so till Bohag Bihu. In fact, the showers during the past week have helped bring down the mercury levels. The average maximum temperature had been recorded at 35 degrees Celsius in March this year.
After a shower, the fresh smell of soil and orchids makes people long for the arrival of Bohag Bihu with the sound of dhol, pepa and gogona reverberating in the air.
Last year, the Bihu festivities were marked by a very hot and humid climate. The temperature had shot up to 40.6 degrees Celsius on April 24, which was the highest recorded during this time in the past three years. In fact, the roads bore a deserted look on this day with people shielding themselves from the unbearable heat in the comfort of their homes and air-conditioned offices or any place they could find.
Having a pleasant weather will also mean that the young and old can don their traditional pat and muga attire without having to worry about how to look fresh all day. After all, who wants a sweaty weather to spoil the carefully adorned appearance?
The weatherman has forecast heavy rain in most places across the state as well as in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura in the next 48 hours. Thundersquall, exceeding wind speed of 60kmph and accompanied by hail, has also been predicted at isolated places in the Northeast today and tomorrow.
"More rains have been predicted at most places of the state and other northeastern states during the next 24 hours and at many places during the next 48 hours. Rain during the past few days has helped lower the maximum temperature, which was hovering one or two degrees above the normal temperature of 31 degrees Celsius. If rain stops, the temperature will rise. But if it continues, it will not peak like last year during this time," an official of the Regional Meteorological Centre here said.
The current rainfall was a result of the formation of a low pressure trough from east Assam to Vidarbha in Maharashtra with embedded cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal and its neighbourhood, which extends up to 0.9km above mean sea level, Met department officials said.
"We are looking ahead to participate in Bihu functions in our neighbourhood and seriously hope that the weather remains pleasant like now till Bohag Bihu," said Asha Das, a college student in Rukmininagar of the city.
