Delhi Ramlila to burn 30-foot 'cockroach' effigy alongside Ravan

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises Ramlila in Pitampura, said the insect represents "filth and dirt" and the initiative is part of the "Swachh Bharat" and "Swachh Delhi" campaigns

Delhi Ramlila to burn 30-foot 'cockroach' effigy alongside Ravan left A participant wears a cockroach mask as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party gather for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. File photo for representational purposes only. AP AP https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/j5ozl3/article71589229.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/India_Cockroach_Protests__22.jpg RAFIQ MAQBOOL A participant wears a cockroach mask as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party gather for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and call for the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Mumbai, India, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises Ramlila in Pitampura, said the insect represents "filth and dirt" and the initiative is part of the "Swachh Bharat" and "Swachh Delhi" campaigns

New Delhi

A 30-foot-tall "cockroach" effigy will go up in flames alongside those of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad at a Ramlila in the national capital this year.

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises Ramlila in Pitampura, said the insect represents "filth and dirt" and the initiative is part of the "Swachh Bharat" and "Swachh Delhi" campaigns.

Cockroach Janta Party protests | Collection of The Hindu's ground reports Cockroach Janta Party protests | Collection of The Hindu's ground reports Tens of thousands of young protesters took to the streets of New Delhi, clashing with police who used tear gas and batons to push them back Cockroach Janta Party protests | Collection of The Hindu's ground reports complexpackage 1

Ashok Goel, the committee president and a BJP MLA, told PTI that the decision is not politically motivated.

Burning the cockroach effigy is meant to reinforce the message of the victory of good over evil and cleanliness, he said.

Comment | The cockroach dilemma facing India's political parties

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The "cockroach" will also feature among the 'asuras' in Ravan's army, Mr. Goel said.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the Cockroach Janata Party's protests in the national capital, first against ex-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and now for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

In June and July, the group sat in protest at Jantar Mantar for over a month and marched to Parliament on July 20, eventually forcing Pradhan to resign as minister.

The 'cockroaches' who refuse to crawl away The 'cockroaches' who refuse to crawl away Over the last week, Cockroach Janta Party-led protests demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister and reforms to the education system have spread across the country. Students and others have continued their demonstrations despite allegations of state excesses. Nikhil M. Babu, Shrimansi Kaushik, Serena Josephine M., and Vinaya Deshpande report from across India on a movement that won't fade The 'cockroaches' who refuse to crawl away storyline 1

The CJP has returned to the streets, joining opposition parties and student organisations in demonstrations demanding the resignation of the CEC over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The protests in Delhi led to the detention of many activists, students, and journalists.