Thousands of devotees observe a fast, meditate and throng to temples and holy shrines to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the occasion of Shivratri. However, down South, in the week leading to the festival, classical dancers perform a ritual in Shiva temples to invoke Nataraja, a dancing manifestation of the lord. The practice, first started at Chidambaram’s Thillai Nataraja temple in 1981, came to be known as Natyanjali and was soon held at several prominent Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu and other states.

The festival features Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathakali and Kuchipudi performances by artistes from across the country