The notorious brigand Veerappan is being slayed all over again - this time by goddess Durga on Orissa's Puri beach!

International sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik has created the image of goddess Durga in sand and has sculpted Veerappan's face in place of demon Mahisasura using more then 2,000 bags of sand.

Patnaik and his group of students took almost 13 hours to complete the work, in time for the Durga Pooja festival that begins on Wednesday.

"Initially we had created the traditional image of Mahisasura. Then we heard about the killing of Veerappan and replaced it with Veerappan's image.

'It shows the victory of good over evil and is already drawing huge crowds on the beach,' says Patnaik. The sculpture will remain for public viewing till the end of the festival.

The artist has received several national and international awards for his sand arts.

Photograph: Sarat Kumar Patra

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