30-Foot Cockroach Effigy to Join Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad at Delhi Ramleela

A 30-foot-tall cockroach effigy will be set ablaze alongside Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad during a Ramleela celebration in Delhi this year. The unusual addition has been announced by the Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee in Pitampura, which says the effigy is intended to represent filth and promote cleanliness. The announcement comes amid ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in the national capital.

Why Is a 30-Foot Cockroach Effigy Being Burned at Delhi Ramleela?

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee has decided to include the 30-foot cockroach effigy in its annual Ravan Dahan ceremony. According to the committee, the effigy will be burned alongside the traditional figures of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad. Vijayadashami 2026: Lord Rama's Victory, Goddess Durga's Triumph and How Dussehra Is Celebrated Across India.

Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel told the Times of India that the cockroach represents filth and dirt. He said the initiative is intended to spread awareness about cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi campaigns. Goel also said the cockroach would be depicted as one of the asuras in Ravan's army, making it part of the effigies burned during the Dussehra celebrations.

Ashok Goel Denies Political Motive Amid CJP Protests

The announcement comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party, which has been demonstrating in Delhi over various political demands. The group had earlier protested against former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and has recently demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Goel has denied that the decision to burn the cockroach effigy is politically motivated. He has maintained that the initiative is intended to promote cleanliness rather than target any political group. The timing has nevertheless drawn attention because of the CJP's name and its recent demonstrations in the capital.

CJP Protests Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

The Cockroach Janta Party has been organising protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The group has demanded Kumar's resignation and attempted to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar, where authorities have recently tightened restrictions on protests. CJP members and supporters have also faced preventive detention during the demonstrations. Jantar Mantar Crackdown: Why CJP Leaders Were Sent to Custody While Ajinkya Shinde Was Bound Down.

The committee's announcement comes as Delhi prepares for its annual Dussehra festivities, during which the burning of Ravan effigies traditionally symbolises the victory of good over evil. While the organisers have cited cleanliness as the reason for including the cockroach effigy, the decision has attracted attention amid the CJP's ongoing protests in the city.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2026 08:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).