Patiala, March 20: Farmers from across Punjab and Haryana gathered at the Mata Sri Kali Devi Temple on Friday to pray for the rain to stop. Coinciding with the second day of Navratri, the pilgrimage saw large numbers of agricultural workers seeking a reprieve from the Western Disturbance that has lashed the region with unseasonal storms. The farmers maintained that the current weather patterns are directly threatening the ripening wheat and mustard crops ready for harvest.
Representatives of the Kisan Mazdoor Union stated that the primary worry is the potential for large-scale crop flattening due to the heavy winds accompanying the rain. They affirmed that the loss of yield would be devastating for families already struggling with rising operational costs. During their visit to the temple, farmers asserted that they have come to seek the Goddess’s blessings to shield their fields from the unpredictable elements, noting that the weather has forced a return to winter-like conditions in a month usually characterized by rising heat.
The latest forecasts from the Meteorological Department indicate that the pressure system originating from the Mediterranean region will continue to affect Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for at least another six to eight hours. Experts noted that while the rainfall is intermittent, the cumulative effect on ready-to-harvest plants is severe. Agriculture officials declared that harvesting for crops like mustard has already been suspended in many areas, as the damp ground makes it impossible for machinery or labor to enter the fields.
Farmers at the temple affirmed that the current atmospheric conditions are unlike anything seen in recent years for this time of March. They declared that the “Signed to God” sentiment—relying on faith to see them through the crisis—is widespread across the rural belt. As they paid obeisance, the devotees maintained that they remain hopeful for a clear sky by sunset, which would allow the remaining crops a chance to dry and stabilize before the final harvest begins.
