Delhi Ramleela to burn 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad

Alongside those of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad a 30-foot cockroach effigy will be set ablazeat a Ramleela event in Delhi this year. The organisers say the unusual addition is meant to spread a message about cleanliness, according to Vriti Jain's Times of India report.

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee who is responsible for organising the event in Pitampura, said the cockroach symbolises “filth and dirt” and that the decision is in line with the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi campaigns.

Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel told PTI that there was no political motive behind the move. He said the idea was to highlight the triumph of good over evil while drawing attention to the importance of cleanliness.


Goel also said the cockroach would feature as one of the asuras in Ravan's army.

The announcement comes at a time when the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been holding protests in the national capital. Earlier the group had demonstrated against former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Currently, it is seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In June and July, CJP members held a protest at Jantar Mantar for more than a month before marching towards Parliament on July 20.

The group has since joined opposition parties and student organisations in demonstrations against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protests in Delhi have also seen several activists, students and journalists being detained.

(With TOI inputs)