Delhi Ramlila to Burn 30-Foot Cockroach Effigy Alongside Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad

New Delhi, 16th October 2026: A 30-foot-tall effigy of a cockroach will be burned alongside the traditional effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad during a Ramlila celebration in Delhi this year. Organisers have said the initiative aims to promote cleanliness and reinforce the message of the victory of good over evil.

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises the annual Ramlila in Pitampura, announced the plan, stating that the cockroach symbolises filth and dirt. The initiative is being linked to the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi campaigns.

Ashok Goel, president of the committee and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that the decision was not politically motivated. He said the symbolic burning was intended to highlight the importance of cleanliness and the triumph of good over evil.

According to Goel, the cockroach effigy will also feature among the asuras in Ravan’s army during the Ramlila.

Announcement Comes Amid Cockroach Janata Party Protests

The decision comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has been holding demonstrations against political leaders and constitutional authorities.

In June and July, CJP supporters staged a protest at Jantar Mantar for more than a month, targeting former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations linked to the NEET examination controversy. The group also marched towards Parliament on July 20.

The party has since joined opposition parties and student organisations in demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protests in Delhi have resulted in the detention of several activists, students and journalists.

Although the Ramlila committee has denied any political motivation behind its decision to burn the cockroach effigy, the announcement has drawn attention because of its timing amid the CJP’s ongoing protests.

The additional effigy will be included in this year’s Ramlila celebrations in Pitampura, alongside the traditional burning of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad, which symbolises the victory of good over evil.