The Dharmasala police here organised a two-day Holi festival, which is popularly called as Munsi Melan. “Since 1877, the police have been organising the festival of colour with mirth and merriment in Dharmasala. Gopinath Parija, popularly known as Daroga Munshi of Dharmasala, had started the festival 139 years back. Since then the festival is being organised every year by a managing committee headed by thee OIC of Dharmasala police station.
“We play an important role with the full support of the locals to organize the two- day Holi festival. All the police men and women never touch any non-vegetarian food for the two days,” said Dharmasala IIC Amitav Mohapatra. “To improve the relationship between the police and public the festival had started during the British period. Dharmasala police station was established in 1874 after more than a decade of the end of the First War of Independence or the Sephai Mutiny in 1857,” vice chairman Dharmasala block Jaladhar Mohanty, adding that that many locals had started revolting against the British rule at that time for which police had started Munshi Melan to win over the locals.
Over 40 Radha and Krishna idols are brought from nearby areas as part of the celebrations. The deities are invited as guests. Deities come in their palanquins. The procession is led by village drummers, pipers and the policemen. The procession halts in front of each household and the deities are offered ‘Bhog’. On the second day, the celebration culminates in a festival for the deities at a ground near the police station. The idols carried in palanquins from a number of villages assemble there for the Melana (gathering of deities). The palanquins are placed in a row for public view. Keen competition is observed in the decoration of the palanquins. When all the expected palanquins reach the place, display of fire-works takes place and this is watched by thousands of enthusiastic crowd.