Chidambaram was seized this Saturday evening - hundreds of vans and buses, hundreds of cars and bikes, hundreds of autos. Seizing the car streets that run around the great temple of lord Nataraja.
Groups of boys and girls in school uniforms crowded around hawker stalls selling small framed images of gods and goddesses even as a few young dancers fought their way into the temple through the eastern side.
Thousands of people were inside the temple.
Workers were removing carpets and metal sheets, hangars and wooden poles used to set up the pandals for a recent abhiskeham inside.
A large flex banner promised a Guiness Record of Bharatanatyam dancers - target 10,000 - performing in the temple.
Some said it would be for Sivaratri.
On the steps leading to the decaying, locked 1000-pillared mantapam in the north, a small group of dancers performed to live music as two cameramen recorded the recitals.
A banner said this was a festival for Sivaratri.
"Its the prelude to the main dance festival here," a Dikshitar who is part of the host team told us.
Two dozen people watched. Some chatted. Some looked closely and then walked away.
As the setting sun's rays lit up the faded yet strong sculptures of dancers and musicians that adorn the base of the 1000-pillared mantap, the dust from mounds of papier mache and mud that had created the bowls for the rituals conducted closely swirled.
The smell of urine passed by humans along the walls of the mantap was a stench.
The mantap, in chains was certainly dying a slow death.
Another set of dancers took the stage.
Preparations for Mahasivaratri carried on.
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