January 23 has always been a special occasion for Shiv Sainiks, except this time there’s a lot of poignancy woven into the emotions as the moment approaches. Bal Thackeray the party patriarch who passed away on November 17 was born on this day in 1926. Two months after his demise, Sena’s insistence on a memorial for their departed leader at Shivaji Park has changed little on the ground.

Shiv Sainiks gathered at Shivaji Park to guard the site where a temporary samadhi of Bal Thackeray was erected on December 17. The structure was later dismantled. File pic