Rain that lashed the national Capital pulling temperatures down by several notches at the fag end of February may have taken Delhiites by surprise. But, if astrologers who study weather based on Vedic scriptures and planetary positions are to be believed, rainfall during this time is a natural phenomenon.
While the Met department attributed the ‘sudden’ rainfall to a unusual culmination of Western Disturbances and locally induced circulations, astrologers, on the other hand, claim that rain at the time of ‘mahot’ which falls in the middle of Magh month according to Hindu calendar, is par for the course.
“Heavy rain occurs due to the formation of greh kaal (planetary movement). It also occurred because some stars were in the kendriya taal. A linear mapping is done which also includes mathematics,” said Jayram Shastri, a renowned astrologer from Mathura. Referring to previous 50 years of record, he added, it is a normal activity and occurs every time during this month.
Besides, it is not just the ancient records and the movement of planets and stars which resulted in the rainfall. Astrologers had predicted rain before gauging the winds blowing in the city. “Another factor which facilitated rain and thundershowers were the cool winds blowing over the Himalayas,” added Shastri. Rain, however, was scheduled to occur from February 15-20, but got delayed as the linearity of stars and planets was formed late.
If astrologers are to be believed, the delay in rain is likely to affect prices of essential commodities like cooking oil and vegetables four months later. “Prices of mustard oil, potatoes and peanuts will hit the roof after four months. Had the rain happened timely, the produce would have flourished. But late rain will ruin the sprouted saplings,” said Shastri. More rain is expected till Sunday afternoon beyond which the sky is likely to get clear.
Meanwhile, it was a chilly Saturday in the national Capital with the minimum temperature recorded at 12 degrees Celsius, average for the season. The Met office has forecast a cloudy day ahead. “Partly cloudy sky with a spell of light rain and thundershower in some parts of the city will be recorded,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department.
The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 22 degrees Celsius. Heavy rain had lashed the city on Friday, making February the wettest month in a decade. The city has received 9.7 mm rainfall since Friday and the maximum temperature recorded was four notches below average at 21.3 degrees Celsius.