Radha Krishna idols in the chariots during Munshi Melan in Jajpur. Telegraph picture

Jajpur, March 24: Once in a year, the men in khaki in Jajpur get a chance to don different colours. The policemen in Dharmasala observe the two-day festival of colours in a grand way.

Popularly known as Munsi Melan, the festival involving policemen is the only one of its kind in the province. The celebrations go back to 1877, when the then officer-in-charge of Dharmasala police station, Jagannath Mallick, popularly known as Daroga Munsi, started Munsi Melan.

Since then the festival has been organised every year by a managing committee headed by the Dharmasala police station chief, who is also the ex-officio president of the committee for the celebrations.

“According to tradition, Munsi Melan is organised by the Dharmasala police every year with the support of locals and many government offices which come under the jurisdiction of the police station. Dharmasala police shoulder most of the responsibilit,” said Jaladhar Mohanty, secretary of the Munsi Melan committee.

The Dharmshala police station in-charge becomes a host rather than the man taking care of the law and order in the area.

“Despite a huge gathering of people from the district and outside, Munshi Melan passes off peacefully each year. The police deployment is only symbolic to maintain law and order,” said Suvendu Kumar Sinha, inspector-in-charge of Dharmasala police station.

Munshi Melan was perhaps started with the aim of bringing people closer to the police.

“The police get an opportunity once every year to have a close interaction with the locals,” said Sinha.

Over 30 Radha-Krishna idols of the district are ‘invited’ to take part in the festival, a custom being followed every year. Radha and Krishna idols are brought from nearby areas as part of the celebrations. The deities are invited as guests. They come in their chariots and the field adjoining the police station turns into a fair ground where the festival of colours is celebrated. Discourses, display of fireworks, sankirirtan and bhajan programmes are organised.

“Often the success of such a unique tradition indicates the ability of the inspector-in-charge,” said Dipti Ranjan Ray, former inspector-in-charge of Dharmasala police station and present deputy superintendent of police, Jajpur.

The celebration is a big step towards bridging the communication gap between people and the police. “Munsi Melan reminds us that police is part and parcel of the society,” said local sarpanch, Sakuntala Samal.

The grand fair managing committee has 61 members including the local block development officer, medical officer, tehsildar, sub-registrar, principal of local college, executive engineer (rural development), executive engineer (water resources), headmaster of the government high school, village leaders and local PRI members for monitoring different aspects of the festival.