“The Jaipur Literature Festival will be held under pleasant weather conditions,” says Mahesh Palawat, Head of the forecasting team at Skymet Weather. Sunny days and cool mornings and nights are what Skymet Weather forecasts for the upcoming Jaipur Literature Festival being held from 24th to 28th January 2013.

“Inspite of the sun shining on us all day long, the weather is pleasant and enjoyable. I am loving the city and the weather and have already registered for the Jaipur Literature Festival as well,” says Priscilla Gomes, a tourist from Chicago. She is one of the many tourists that flock to Jaipur around this time.

The Jaipur Literature Festival has grown as an important platform for eminent writers, thinkers and philosophers all over the world. The fact that these literature festivals are held in culturally vibrant cities such as Jaipur, adds to the flavour and increases their popularity significantly. The Jaipur Literature Festival is the perfect time to travel to the pink city to get involved in some intellectual discussions - and of course, a great time for some sightseeing too! Although the literature festival this year has been hijacked by some unpleasant elements, the pleasant weather in Jaipur, the Pink City, will make up for the sour environment some fanatics have tried to create. The weather in Jaipur on Jan 22^nd was recorded at 4.4⁰C, whereas the maximum was 22⁰C. The weather in Jaipur from Jan 24^th to Jan 28^th will therefore be around the same figures. Mornings and evenings will be cool at around 5⁰C to 7⁰C and the days will be sunny and bright between 22⁰C to 28⁰C. Light and cool northerly winds from the hills will make you wear a thin sweater or light jacket in the afternoon. Evenings will be perfect for a cozy bonfire and some hot chai.

Every year the winter weather in Jaipur attracts thousands of foreign tourists across the globe. In fact, various Indian tourists from adjoining areas of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh also make it point to visit the city of colors and forts over weekends. The Jaipur Literature Festival, being the largest festival in Asia-Pacific and the most prestigious celebration of national and international literature held in India, adds to this, and acts as an incentive to lure more tourists to travel to Jaipur around this time. Some of the major attractions during this sixth edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival will the discussions on spiritualism by the Dalai Lama, debates on women issues, and talks by Salman Rushdie.

Photo by Ritika Acharya.

We have all heard about the world famous, elaborate, Kumbh Mela, held every year, but very little knowledge about the Kumbh Mela and it's history and origin is known to people and tourists. So here goes the history before we provide some info on the weather in Allahabad during the Kumbh, 2013, in case you want to experience the majestic festival:

The demigods had lost their strength by the curse of Durväsä Muni, and to regain it, they prayed to Lord Vishnu, who instructed them to churn an ocean of milk (amrit manthan) to receive amrita, the nectar of immortality. However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued between the gods and the demons for the pot of amrit. It is believed that during this battle, Lord Vishnu flew away with the Kumbha or the urn, spilling drops of amrita at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. This is where the Kumbh Mela has been celebrated every year since 664 A.D.

The Kumbh Mela 2013 began Jan14th and will continue till the month of March. So if you are an avid photographer/traveler or are spiritually inclined and you’ve made up your mind to visit the Kumbh Mela, 2013, knowing the Allahabad weather will be of great help to you. Weather forecasters at Skymet predict foggy weather during the Kumbh Mela 2013 for this week.

Mahesh Palawat, Head of the forecasting team informs, “The Allahabad weather in the month of January during the Kumbh Mela will be cold. On Jan 20^th the max was 23.3⁰C, whereas the morning temperature on Jan 21^st was recorded at a low of 5.8⁰C and could remain so for the next two to three days.” “Foggy weather and early morning mist and haze is a high possibility”, he adds. Tourists planning to visit the Kumbh Mela 2013, will enjoy as the pleasant Allahabad weather will not hinder any plans. The fog will soon clear and sunny days will attract even more tourists.

Allahabad weather generally records extreme temperatures that go up to 1⁰C to 2⁰C in the winter months of January. Weathermen at Skymet observe records and tell us that the last time the temperature slid to this low was on January 21^st, 2003. Around this time Allahabad experienced dense fog too.

As years have passed, the effects of global warming are showing results rapidly. The weather in Allahabad being colder in 2012, than the weather in Jan 2013, is an example of effects of global warming in India. But the changes are not significant enough to dampen the spirits of the millions of tourists and sadhus visiting the Kumbh Mela 2013. Allahabad weather will soon see a rise in the max temp as another ‘western disturbance’ is seen approaching the Himalayan region on Jan 23^rd, due to which the cold day conditions will reduce.

Photo by Susan Black.

Skymet’s prediction of rain in the entire north India with chances of thick fog in Delhi coupled with a sudden dip in temperatures by almost 7⁰C in the last two days, came true. This could therefore spell health problems for all age groups, particularly the children and the old, like it does each year. As fog in Delhi could last for a couple of days, infirm are more at risk and should be more careful against the increasing number of flu, virals and cold in kids, warns Himani Gupta, a private doctor.

Fog in Delhi every year raises health concerns for people who suffer from sinus or respiratory diseases like asthma. As the air becomes damp and heavy during fog in Delhi, breathing becomes difficult and leads to serious chest congestions. Some doctors also confirm the fact that the sale of breathing inhalers for stressful asthmatic patients goes way up when the winter weather in Delhi gets extremely cold and foggy. Elderly heart and high blood pressure patients are not very safe either. As fog in Delhi increases, cholesterol issues become a common complaint.

Dr Himani Gupta tells us that the number of cases of respiratory problems reported everyday, when the fog in Delhi becomes dense, are about 40 to 50 easily. She also adds that children are more at risk due to dense fog in Delhi and north India as the high humidity levels lead to inflammation, thus causing respiratory infections.

We suggest some health tips one should keep in mind during days of fog in Delhi.

 TIPS:

1. Stay indoors as much as you can when the levels of fog in Delhi are high.
2. If you must go outside, limit outdoor activity to the early morning hours. Studies have shown that sunny weather makes one feel way healthier than in the dull, grey weather.
3. Don't exercise or exert yourself outdoors when air-quality levels are not so safe and fog is thick. The faster you breathe, the more pollution you will take in. Asthamic patients have increased wheezing when they breathe in damp air.