A 30-foot-tall cockroach effigy will go up in flames alongside the traditional figures of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad at a Ramlila in the national capital this year. Organised by the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee in Pitampura, the Vijayadashami event features a unique addition that committee members claim represents "filth and dirt" in society. The insect will feature among the customary asuras in the demon king's army.

Delhi Ramlila to burn 30-foot cockroach effigy

Ashok Goel, the committee president and a local MLA, stated that the initiative aligns with nationwide clean-up campaigns. "The burning of the effigies at every Vijayadashami is a symbol of truth over falsehood, the victory of righteousness over unrighteousness. That is why we chose a cockroach," Ashok explained, adding that the figure represents social and political filth.

Despite the name, the effigy does not resemble a standard insect. Instead, it depicts a bright pink man with crooked eyebrows, a walrus moustache and a black cockroach crawling up his chest. The striking design arrives against the backdrop of recent national protests led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party. While organisers deny any direct political motivation behind the spectacle, the artists constructing the bamboo and coloured paper structure hold a different perspective.

Savej Khan, the woodwork artist crafting the effigies alongside his cousin Aamir Khan, noted the distinct design choice. The duo's family has been building figures for this specific Ramlila for 16 years, but this year's commission stood out. "This cockroach is climbing on top of their president," Savej said. "Some people have made effigies which look exactly like cockroaches, but we wanted to do something different."

Scheduled for October 20, the burning of this modern asura will take place at Netaji Subhash Place. With the festival grounds heavily themed around national achievements and global summits, the fiery display promises to blend traditional mythology with contemporary cultural commentary.

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