New Delhi | October 16, 2026
A 30-foot-tall cockroach effigy will be burned alongside traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad during this year’s Ramlila celebrations in Pitampura, Delhi. The Shri Keshav Ram Leela Committee says the unusual addition is intended to highlight cleanliness and the need to eliminate unhygienic conditions from homes and neighbourhoods.
The announcement comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demonstrating in Delhi over electoral-roll revision issues and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The timing has attracted public attention, although the organisers have denied that the effigy has any political motive.
Effigy to Promote Cleanliness
The committee, which organises the annual Ramlila event in Pitampura, said the cockroach symbolises filth and dirt. Its inclusion is intended to reinforce the message of cleanliness associated with the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi campaigns.
Committee president Ashok Goel, who is also a BJP MLA, said the effigy would convey the message of good triumphing over evil. He explained that the organisers have previously included additional effigies to highlight issues affecting society.
CJP Protests Continue in Delhi
The announcement coincides with a series of demonstrations by the Cockroach Janta Party. The group has been protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The protests have led to heightened security arrangements in the national capital, including restrictions around Connaught Place ahead of the party’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ gathering. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political bias in the electoral-roll revision process.
Organisers Deny Political Connection
Despite the coincidence in timing, Goel has maintained that the cockroach effigy is part of the committee’s cleanliness campaign and is not connected to the CJP protests.
The insect will be depicted as part of Ravana’s army and burned alongside the traditional figures during the celebrations. The initiative adds a contemporary public-awareness theme to the annual festival, which symbolises the victory of good over evil.
Dussehra Celebrations Take on a New Feature
The 30-foot effigy is expected to be a prominent feature of this year’s Ramlila in Pitampura. The organisers say the objective is to encourage people to address unhygienic conditions in their surroundings.
While the move has drawn attention because of the ongoing CJP protests, the committee has publicly described it as a cleanliness initiative rather than a political statement.
