Durga Puja 2025 Dashami Weather Warning: IMD Forecasts Heavy Rain Across Kolkata and South Bengal
Durga Puja in Kolkata is more than a celebration. It is a heartbeat that unites the city through lights, music, rituals and endless pandal hopping. Yet, this year, the joy of Dashami — the grand farewell — might face an obstacle. The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Kolkata and South Bengal on the very day when devotees gather to immerse idols and bid farewell to the goddess.
The Heart of Dashami
Dashami is the emotional high point of the festival. Women celebrate sindoor khela by smearing vermillion on each other, families join processions and neighborhoods carry idols with chants of “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai” to riverbanks and lakes for immersion. This is the moment when people whisper prayers and promise that the goddess will return next year. But heavy rain and gusty winds threaten to turn these deeply emotional rituals into rushed affairs, dampening the spirit of the day.
What the Weather Holds
The weather office has forecast that showers will intensify from Navami night and peak on Dashami. Several districts of South Bengal, including South and North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and East Midnapore, are expected to witness very heavy rainfall. Kolkata and adjoining areas too are likely to see widespread downpour, with chances of waterlogging in low-lying neighborhoods. Thunderstorms and gusty winds around 40–50 km/h could further complicate matters, especially for pandals set up with temporary structures and elaborate decorations.
Risks for Processions and Rituals
The most vulnerable aspect of Dashami is the immersion. Lakhs of people gather along the Hooghly riverbanks and other ghats to witness the symbolic farewell. Slippery embankments, swelling river currents and reduced visibility during heavy showers can put devotees at risk. Roads leading to immersion sites may flood, creating massive traffic congestion and delaying processions. Authorities fear that if the weather worsens, some rituals might have to be postponed or altered to ensure safety.
Emotional Disruption
For many families, Dashami is not just about rituals but about emotions that run deep. It is the day when people fold their hands, watch the idol disappear into the waters and feel both grief and hope. The idea that these intimate moments might be overshadowed by pouring rain is painful for many. After days of festivity and devotion, everyone longs for a smooth and heartfelt farewell, something that sudden downpours could make difficult.
Coping with the Challenge
Yet Kolkata is known for its resilience. Devotion here does not bow to weather. Umbrellas, raincoats, waterproof covers for idols and makeshift tarpaulin shelters will likely be the sights of Durga Puja’s Dashami 2025. Organizers are strengthening structures, securing pandals and preparing drainage around venues to minimize disruption. Families are advised to check weather updates before stepping out, avoid risky waterlogged areas and remain cautious at crowded ghats.
The Spirit Will Endure
Despite the gloomy forecast, one thing remains certain: the essence of Durga Puja cannot be washed away. The dhakis will still play their drums, the conch shells will still blow, children will still marvel at their favorite pandals and women will still laugh as they smear vermillion on each other. The rituals may adapt to the weather, but the devotion will remain untouched.
A Lesson Beyond the Rain
Dashami 2025 is set to remind the city that while the skies may pour without mercy, the festival is about more than sunshine and perfect evenings. It is about community, resilience and an unshakable faith that binds people together. The weather may challenge the farewell, but it cannot erase the promise that echoes across every pandal and every home — asche bochor abar hobe — she will return next year.
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