Bhubaneswar: The story may not have been part of Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju, but Sunil Dutt had spent a few days in 1996 sweeping the floor of the Jagannath temple in Puri.

The actor had also had a 150ft flag tied to the nilachakra (blue wheel) of the temple, a votive offering for the release of his son who had then been booked under TADA.

Sarat Kumar Mohanty, 47, who performed the rituals, recalled senior Dutt paying him Rs 1,500 for the job.

Mohanty belongs to the family of Chunara servitors, who have been tying flags atop the temple for the past 800 years. He said: "To every one's delight, carrying that 150ft flag, I started climbing and reached the top of temple and tied it to the Nilachakra. After seeing the flag, that almost touched the base of the temple, flying from the top tears rolled down his (Dutt's) cheeks. He could not contain his emotions. When I came down, he hugged me and I put a pattashree (holy scarf) around his neck."

Mohanty said: "I could see fatherly love in his eyes. I am yet to see Sanju that tells the story of Sanjay Dutt. I will go and watch the movie only to see if Sunil Dutt's love for his son has been properly reflected in it or not."

These days, every day thousands of flag are being tied to the mast of the temple. However, lengthy flags such as the one offered by Sunil Dutt are not being allowed by the temple administration. Now, only 21ft-long flags can be tied to the nilachkra.

"There are 37 Chunara servitors now. The work is divided between us and each one is assigned the job on particular days," said Mohanty.

On how they learn the trick of climbing atop such a big temple, he said: "When I was 10, my father Kunja Bihari Mohanty used to take me along with him when he climbed the temple. I learnt it naturally."

Before climbing the temple, the servitors offer prayers to Maa Bimala at her temple. "Because of Lord's blessings, no has ever fallen while climbing or has been injured. Even during rainy days when the temple walls are slippery, we climb successfully," said Mohanty.

While younger members of the community take 5 to 6 minutes to climb, the elder members take 8 to 10 minutes. From the temple top, one can see a large swathe of area including Barunai hills, Delanga and even Khallikote if the skies are clear.

"The sea looks so close to the shrine that one feels one can jump into it," said Mohanty, an ayurvedic doctor by qualification.

On days when they climb up the temple, the servitors don't eat non-vegetarian food and try to maintain austerity.

Earlier the servitors used to climb the temple during the day at any time, but the temple administration has now fixed the time. The winter timing is 4pm and rest of the year it is 5pm.

Besides tying the flags, they also carry the "mahadipa" on Ekadashi (a holy day).

"We carry the dipa and there on the top we light it," said Mohanty.

Temple PRO Laxmidhar Pujapanda said: "If a devotee wants to tie a flag, he can contact the temple office. For every one foot of the flag, the temple charges Rs 23. While it keeps Rs 10, it gives Rs 13 to the servitor who performs the duty."

A servitor said devotees could directly contact them to. " We charge Rs 70 to Rs 80 if the devotee directly contacts us," said Mohanty.