Delhi's Chilly Republic Day: A Five-Year Freeze and Rain on the Horizon

This Republic Day in Delhi? Well, let's just say it had a particular bite to it. In fact, it turned out to be the chilliest one the city has experienced in a good five years, a fact many couldn't help but feel right down to their bones. It's almost as if nature decided to add its own crisp, frosty backdrop to the grand celebrations.

For those keeping score, the mercury hovered at a brisk 7.8 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature. To put that into perspective, you'd have to rewind all the way to 2019 to find a colder Republic Day, when it dipped slightly further to 7.3 degrees Celsius. So, yes, it was genuinely quite cold for this time of year, making those parades feel even more poignant for the bundled-up spectators.

The daytime wasn't much warmer either, struggling to reach a maximum of just 17 degrees Celsius. And, as if the cold wasn't enough, there's a good chance we'll be seeing some rain very soon. Weather predictions are pointing towards a couple of days of light showers or drizzle, perhaps a final winter flourish before things eventually start to warm up.

Before the full light of day, a moderate fog had blanketed parts of the city, adding that quintessential Delhi winter morning feel. It certainly made for a dramatic scene, didn't it? But amidst all this talk of chill and impending rain, there was a small silver lining: the air quality. It actually showed a welcome improvement, moving into the 'moderate' category, which, let's be honest, is a bit of a relief for Delhiites who are all too familiar with far worse conditions. It's a small win, but a win nonetheless, especially when you're out celebrating.