Earlier in the night, people from the city had begun flocking with their bags for an overnight picnic at the site. Traffic flow on the ghats that link the south-eastern suburb of Kondhwa to the tehsil town of Saswad was suspended following police bandobast for the Sena leaders. The unending stream of vehicles comprising more than 1,000 cars and two-wheelers were forced to halt at the police post that marks the beginning of the ghats.

The entire area had the feel of a military opeartion in progress. The men in khaki, who sat idling by a campfire, told the disappointed lot that the path was sealed and they would not be allowed to go further upbecause ``picnics and revellers spoiled the sanctity of the ghats''. However, A few managed to talk their way past the police barrier.

At 2 a.m., the lucky few who had managed to reach the site, were surprised to see the Thackeray cavalcade -- a stream of 16 cars comprising police vehicles, a Land Cruiser, Bal Thackeray''s white Toyota and his nephew's white Cielo.

But nature does not discriminate. And with no signs of the much-awaited meteor shower, the Sena tiger and lesser mortals had to return disappointed.