Kolkata Puja weather is expected to remain unsettled during the first two days of the festival, with light to moderate showers likely across the city and several districts of south Bengal before conditions turn dry from Sunday, according to the Alipore weather office.
The forecast comes as pandal-hopping begins on Chaturthi, with scattered rain already reported in Kolkata, both 24 Parganas and the two Midnapore districts. A trough extending towards the north Bay of Bengal at lower levels, combined with an influx of moisture into south Bengal, is creating the conditions for rain over the next three to four days, the weather office said.
On Chaturthi, light to moderate rain is expected in Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Howrah. The showers are likely to become more widespread on Panchami, when scattered light to moderate rain is forecast in Kolkata, both 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Jhargram. Other districts of south Bengal may also receive isolated light rain.
The forecast has direct implications for evening crowd movement, outdoor Puja events and temporary installations across Kolkata. Even scattered showers can affect pedestrian movement around busy pandals, increase congestion on roads and make access routes more difficult for visitors. The current forecast, however, points to a gradual reduction in rain after the opening two days rather than a prolonged spell of wet weather.
Rain is expected to decrease substantially on Shashti, which falls on Friday. Isolated light to moderate showers may continue in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. On Saptami, Saturday, isolated light rain is possible in Kolkata, Howrah, both 24 Parganas, both Midnapore districts and Jhargram.
From Sunday, described in the forecast as the second Saptami, dry weather is expected across south Bengal. This would include Kolkata and the main districts currently facing a risk of rain during the early Puja period. The weather office has not indicated a continued widespread rain spell after that point.
North Bengal is expected to remain largely dry, although Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar may receive isolated light to moderate rain until October 18. The monsoon has already withdrawn from most districts of West Bengal.
The remaining areas under the influence of the monsoon include the two Midnapore districts, both 24 Parganas and parts of Howrah. The Alipore weather office said the monsoon is expected to withdraw from these five areas within the next 48 hours.
