This time Goddess Durga unleashes her fury on Veerappan

RANCHI, SEPT 29: Sandalwood smuggler Veerappan is much sought after this Puja. The brigand, who made headlines after his abduction of Kann...

RANCHI, SEPT 29: Sandalwood smuggler Veerappan is much sought after this Puja. The brigand, who made headlines after his abduction of Kannada filmstar Rajkumar two months ago, is all over the pandals, his handle bar moustache, the green forest ambience, caves, etc. Only this time Veerappan has invited the fury of Goddess Durga, and pays for it with his life.

The Rajasthan Club, an organisation of Marwari youth, has set up a 120-feet pandal in the city at the cost of Rs 1.70 lakh. The sculptor has laboured hard in erecting idols of the 15-feet high demon and goddess standing 20 feet tall.

Though the pandal is to be formally opened to the public on October 4, it has already become the centre of attraction. Scores of people today thronged the pandal for a glimpse for the Goddess killing the demon — Veerappan.

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Imagine this. In a lush green forest surrounded by hills, Veerappan stands, trying to block a wheel of a chariot pulled by two tigers.

It is the chariot of Goddess Durga. The tigers roar, and then the fuming Goddess strikes, her spear piercing Veerappan’s chest. The demon bleeds to death.

For a mesmerised viewer, this is a wish come true. “Excellent! If not for real, in imagination at least Veerappan is grounded.”

Right next to Veerappan’s forest are the shinning arches, pillars anddomes of the Thumb Sahib Gurdwara in Kartarpur, Punjab, built by Guru Arjun Dev in 1658.

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The Rajasthan Club hired a Calcutta-based sculptor, Makhan Pal, to make the idols. According to his associate Girdhari Pal, who arrived here from Jaipur yesterday, “In two other pandals in Jaipur and Nagpur too the demon resembles Veerappan.”

Why the replica of the Thumb Sahib gurdwara? Well, according to Girdhari, if the sandalwood smuggler is to be defeated, Pal’s work alone would not help. He adds in lighter vein: “The Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments should jointly float a global tender inviting bids from private security agencies to nab Veerappan.”

The 10-day festival which began on September 27 will end on October 7.