A towering 30-foot cockroach effigy was set ablaze during Dussehra celebrations in Pitampura, New Delhi, on Tuesday, drawing large crowds and sparking a political controversy.
The dramatic nighttime scene, captured amid roaring orange flames, showed the giant insect structure engulfed in fire alongside traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad.
Organized by the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee at the Netaji Subhash Place grounds, the event marked the annual victory of good over evil. Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel described the cockroach as a symbol of filth and dirt, linking the burn to the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi cleanliness campaigns. “Our goal is to eliminate filth from our homes, surroundings, and society,” Goel said, denying any political motive and noting that past Ramlilas had featured effigies representing issues like Naxalism or terrorism.
The realistic cockroach, assembled overnight from printed plywood parts by artist Savej Khan and his team after organizers rejected an earlier pink humanoid design with a cockroach emblem, stood prominently among the traditional figures. Flames consumed it as spectators watched, many recording the spectacle on their phones.
The move quickly drew political reactions. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke sarcastically thanked the organizers for the “free publicity” on social media, amid the party’s ongoing protests over electoral rolls, unemployment, and governance issues. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj filed a complaint seeking an FIR, alleging the act hurt religious sentiments. Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, who attended as chief guest, dismissed critics as “termites” of politics. Organizers maintained the focus remained on hygiene awareness rather than satire.
Dussehra, observed on the tenth day of the Ashwin month, traditionally concludes Ramlila performances with the burning of demonic effigies. This year’s Pitampura event stood out for blending mythology with a modern cleanliness message—while igniting debate over the intersection of culture, politics, and public campaigns in the capital.