Krushna Meher, 60, has dressed up as Hanuman, amusing people who have milled to the holy town to watch the rath yatra on Wednesday.

Defying the scorching heat, Meher was moving around with his gada (mace) to regale the devotees near the chariots. He appeared happy and full of devotional fervour.

"I forget my fatigue when I see thousands of devotees. The more the heat, the higher the energy level," he said.

Meher, who hails from Sambalpur, has been donning the role of Hanuman during the car festival over the past six years.

Meher, a security guard by profession in the Sambalpur university, said: "Earlier, I used to come to see the car festival with my family members. But everything changed after I came across a man who used to play the role of Hanuman in front of the chariot. He had developed a liking for me seeing my muscular body and asked me to be prepared for the role from next year. Taking his advice seriously, I turned up in Puri in 2011 and started performing the role of Hanuman."

Meher spoke of his emotional bond with the holy town of Puri.

"For the last seven generations or more, my forefathers have been coming to Puri. I still remember how my father used to bring me to Puri town. In those days, only a few thousand devotees used to come here. The atmosphere was quite different that time. But with the passage of time, everything has changed. But the love for Lord Jagannath remains intact. It is my love for the Lord that makes me perform the role of Hanuman."

"Every year, I buy colour to paint myself as Hanuman. The gada that I am holding is made of eight metals. While I hold the gada, I feel a sense of renewed energy," he said.

Meher was critical of the ongoing controversy about whether devotees should touch the Lords or not.

"Here people come with a special feeling. However, people who come after eating meat should not be allowed to touch the deities," he said.

Not only Meher, the pilgrim city of Puri on Wednesday witnessed a number of other people depicting the role of Hanuman on Grand Road in front of the chariots.

"People have a special place in their hearts for Lord Hanuman in Puri. It is said that Lord Hanuman protects Jagannath temple. The temple of Lord Hanuman is located at the north gate of Shree Jagannath temple. I am proud to be playing Hanuman," said Meher.

Meher is the father of four daughters and a son.

"Money has never been a constraint for me. It never deters me from coming to Puri. However, I am thankful to the servitors that they are giving me food and providing me with shelter."