Amidst the thick of winter, devotees have started to throng the 44-days long Magh Mela in the holy city of Allahabad. Uttar Pradesh, including Allahabad, has been experiencing biting cold conditions accompanied by rainfall. However, on the first day of the Magh Mela, the city witnessed a clear sky. Thousands of devotees took a holy dip at the Sangam ((the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) amidst the bitter cold. Over the course of the day, the crowd is expected to increase to more than 25 lakh. Although the maximum temperature reached a pleasant 20°C, the day will be windy.
According to Skymet Metereology Division, due to the presence of water bodies, foggy conditions in the morning will be persistent in the city for the entire month and may even stretch up to the end of the festive season. Also, at times the city may experience dense fog in the early hours of the morning as well.
Moderate winds will add on to the chill factor making the mornings even colder. Sunny afternoons will provide some relief to the devotees from the extreme cold. The sun may take a back seat for a day or two due to the weather systems causing rainfall, but clear skies will soon follow suit. Cold conditions will continue to prevail during Paush Purnima (January 5), Makar Sankranti (January 14), and Mauni Amavasya (January 20).
By the time we approach Basant Panchami on January 24, the weather conditions will significantly improve. Towards the end of the fair, both the maximum and minimum temperatures will rise leading to pleasant days and less colder nights. The spell of extreme cold will hopefully end by the final bathing on Shivratri (February 17)
