A 30-foot-tall effigy of a cockroach will be burnt alongside those of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad at a Ramleela event in Delhi this year, organisers have announced.
The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises the annual event in Pitampura, said the insect represents “filth and dirt” and will be included among the asuras in Ravan’s army. The initiative, according to the committee, aims to reinforce the message of cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi campaigns.
Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel told PTI that the decision was not politically motivated. He said burning the effigy was intended to convey the victory of good over evil while highlighting the importance of cleanliness.
Cockroach effigy amid CJP protests
The announcement comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in the national capital. The group has previously staged demonstrations against former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and is now demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In June and July, CJP held a protest at Jantar Mantar for over a month and marched towards Parliament on July 20. The group’s campaign against alleged examination irregularities coincided with growing pressure on the government over the issue. However, the claim that the protests forced Pradhan to resign has not been independently established by the information provided.
CJP has since returned to the streets, joining Opposition parties and student organisations in protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The demonstrations in Delhi led to the detention of several activists, students and journalists.
Organisers deny political motive
Despite the timing, Goel maintained that the cockroach effigy was intended to promote cleanliness and was not linked to the CJP protests.
The committee said the effigy would form part of Ravan’s army during the Ramleela celebrations, placing it alongside the traditional figures of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad.
The unusual addition is likely to draw attention during this year’s celebrations, combining the traditional symbolism of the victory of good over evil with a contemporary message about sanitation and cleanliness.
