Light rain expected on Sunday, but won't hit yoga day

A day before India hosts the first International Yoga Day, weather agencies have forecast a partly cloudy Sunday here with the possibility of light rain.

"Light rain has been forecast but that too between late night and early morning. There is nothing much to worry as the day later will be partly cloudy but pleasant," confirmed both the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Skymet.

The IMD is a government weather forecasting agency while Skymet is a private weather forecasting institution.

Skymet's chief meteorologist Mahesh Palawat told IANS that there is no threat to the event. In fact, the "patchy" rain has been forecast for very early morning.

However, Palawat also said that Delhi will start receiving pre-monsoon showers from early next week.

A senior official of the IMD told IANS that Sunday may see light rainfall.

"The weather later in the day will improve and by afternoon will be clear and pleasant and the temperature is not going to soar beyond 38 degrees Celsius," said the official.

The United Nations has declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day in a global endorsement of the ancient Indian discipline.

A staggering 37,000 yoga mats will be spread along Rajpath and the verdant lawns around India Gate on Sunday that will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead the nation in some early morning yoga - with 192 countries across the world joining in.