Puri, July 26: The memories of this year's Nabakalebar will be etched in the mind of Krupasindhu Mohanty, 49, an assistant sub-inspector working with Puri town police.

Mohanty has been associated with the grand festival right from the beginning when the servitors began their search for daru, the sacred wood required for making the new deities.

Mohanty, who was earlier posted at the Temple Outpost for about two years, recalled the days when the team of banajaga yatris left Puri in search of the sacred wood.

"The way the devotees showered respect and love on the servitors showed the faith they have in the deities. We have even seen people washing the feet of servitors with turmeric water. As we have been entrusted with the job of accompanying the servitors, rice and flowers sprinkled on the priests also fell on us. It was an emotional moment for us. Devotees would also welcome us with coconut water," said Mohanty, who started his job as a constable 30 years ago.

The policeman also said many of his fellow colleagues accompanying the servitors during the banajaga yatra also quit taking non-vegetarian food. "We even gave up onion and garlic. Like the servitors, the cops also stopped shaving during the journey," said Mohanty, a native of Naral village in Nimapara of Puri district.

Mohanty, however, had faint memory about the last Nabakalebar held in 1996. "The coverage of the festival in 1996 was not so extensive. This year media played an important role. The police have been working relentlessly to manage the huge crowd that has congregated here," he said.

With the Nabakalebar and rath yatra concluding on July 29 with Niladri bije, the police official said the festival would be long remembered by him. "I may retire from my service by the time of next Nabakalebar, but would definitely love to become a part of the festival," Mohanty said.