Rain likely to affect Art of Living fest

New Delhi, March 11: Patchy showers on Friday night followed by heavy rains may spoil the Art of Living's (AoL) World Culture Festival scheduled here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Two leading weather forecast agencies, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Skymet Weather Services told IANS that it would rain on Saturday and Sunday, while patchy showers are expected on Friday night.

"Tomorrow (Saturday) and day after that, there are fair chances that it would rain in early morning, late afternoon and evening, with strong winds and thundershowers. It may spoil the event," said Mahesh Palawat, director of Skymet, India's only private weather forecasting agency.

The weather office's forecast of heavy showers for Saturday also gave anxious moments to the organisers who were giving final touches to their preparation for the event.

"Heavy rain is very likely at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi. Rain and thundershowers are likely to occur on Friday night also," the IMD said.

The Art of Living Foundation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is organising the World Culture Festival on March 11-13 on the banks of the Yamuna river. The event has already landed in controversy for allegedly flouting the environmental regulations and degrading the ecology of the Yamuna floodplains.

AoL had informed the authorities that three lakh people would attend the event. However, in its promotional literature, it had claimed that 35 lakh people would come from 155 countries.

The organisers have spent Rs.25.63 crore for the event.

IANS