Rain and Gusty Winds Disrupt Festivities as West Bengal Celebrates Navami Amid Monsoon Impact

KalimNews, October 1, 2025, Kalimpong : West Bengal’s festive spirit faced an unexpected hurdle today as rain and gusty winds hit the region during the Navami celebrations, the penultimate day of Durga Puja. The weather, which had been predicted to bring light to moderate rainfall, caused significant disruption in many areas, dampening the fervor of thousands of devotees who had gathered to witness the final day of the five-day-long festivities.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier forecast light to moderate showers across South Bengal, including Kolkata, and parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. However, the weather turned harsher than expected, with heavier rainfall recorded in several districts. In the Dooars region, light to moderate rain resulted in the damage of several pandals, affecting the celebrations. Gusty winds were also recorded in Howrah district, further complicating the situation for residents and visitors alike.

Despite the weather challenges, large crowds continued to throng pandals across Kolkata and other districts, determined to make the most of the day’s events.

In the southern part of the state, areas like South 24 Parganas and Howrah recorded heavy rainfall, with some districts receiving between 7-11 cm of rain. The IMD also warned of thunderstorms, with gusty winds of 30-40 km/h and lightning expected in various parts of South Bengal. The situation was expected to worsen over the next few days as the low-pressure system, which had formed over the Bay of Bengal, intensified into a depression and moved towards Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

The adverse weather conditions had a visible impact on festivities. Members of the Naktala Nabapally Sarbojanin Durga Puja committee, however, remained resolute, carrying on with their scheduled events, including a fashion show featuring local participants. “We are going ahead with our events, as no resident here wants to miss the chance to celebrate. Not a single person leaves the area during these five days,” said a member of the committee.

While the rain and storm warnings posed a risk for those attending open-air events, several areas were still seeing traditional rituals performed despite the weather. At Sabarna Roychudhury’s house in Barisha, the traditional ‘kumari’ puja, where a young girl is worshipped as Durga, was carried out as planned, adding a spiritual element to the festive day. Similarly, in communities across the state, cultural functions and community feasts continued, giving a sense of normalcy despite the weather disturbances.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent her greetings to the people of the state on Navami, sharing a music video of a puja song written by her and performed by singer Iman Chakraborty, as she wished for peace and prosperity for everyone.

The weather outlook for the coming days suggests that the rains will continue, with heavy showers expected in several districts. The IMD has forecast that the depression over the Bay of Bengal will move further north-northwest and intensify into a deep depression, bringing more rainfall to South Bengal and other coastal areas. The system is expected to cross the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts by October 3, with squally winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h and gusting up to 70 km/h over the Bay of Bengal. Fishermen have been advised to stay off the sea due to the rough conditions.

The coming days will likely see further rain, with heavy showers and thunderstorms forecasted over both South and North Bengal, especially in areas like Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, and Birbhum. As the festival moves towards its conclusion with Dashami on October 2, the weather will continue to be a significant factor in shaping the experience of the thousands of people participating in the Puja.

While the monsoon’s impact on the celebrations is undeniable, the resilience of the people of West Bengal in the face of nature’s challenges remains evident, as the state moves forward with its vibrant traditions, community spirit, and devotion despite the dampened conditions. The ongoing celebrations will surely continue to bring people together, with the rain acting only as a temporary setback for the unwavering festive spirit of Durga Puja.

South Bengal:

01-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers very likely to occur at most places across all districts.
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) very likely at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas districts.
Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) and lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places over all districts of South Bengal.

02-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershower very likely across most districts.
Heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) expected at one or two places over South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore districts.
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) likely in one or two places over Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Bankura, Hoogly, and Purulia districts.
Thunderstorms with gusty winds (40-50 km/h) and lightning are likely at one or two places over East and West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, and thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) and lightning expected in the rest of South Bengal.

03-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershower expected at most places over all districts.
Heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) expected at one or two places over Purulia and West Burdwan districts.
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) likely at one or two places over East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Murshidabad, East Burdwan, and Bankura districts.
Thunderstorms with gusty winds (40-50 km/h) and lightning very likely in East and West Midnapore and South 24 Parganas districts; thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) and lightning expected in other districts.

04-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershower very likely at most places over all districts.
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) expected at one or two places over Birbhum and Murshidabad districts.
Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) and lightning are very likely at one or two places across all districts.

05-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershower expected at many places over all districts.
Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) and lightning very likely at one or two places across all districts of South Bengal.

06-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershower expected at many places across all districts of South Bengal.

07-10-2025:

Light to moderate rain or thundershower expected at a few places over all districts of South Bengal.

North Bengal: