📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vice President's Secretariat
Religion
30-foot cockroach effigy to be burnt alongside Ravana puppets in Delhi Ramleela
✍️ Amar Ujala · Delhi
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 10:31 AM
👁 10
The Delhi Ramleela this year will feature a 30-foot cockroach effigy that will be set ablaze together with the traditional Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada puppets, organisers said.
Delhi's annual Ramleela, staged as part of the Dussehra festivities, will include an unusual 30-foot tall cockroach effigy. The giant model will be placed on the stage and burnt together with the customary puppets of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada.
The organising committee confirmed the addition of the cockroach figure and said it is intended to convey a symbolic message, though the exact rationale was not detailed in the statement. The move has drawn curiosity from spectators who are accustomed to the traditional demon‑king effigies.
Authorities have assured that safety measures will be in place for the large pyre, and the event is expected to attract the usual crowds that gather to witness the symbolic triumph of good over evil during Dussehra.
The inclusion of the cockroach effigy reflects a broader trend of incorporating contemporary themes into age‑old rituals, aiming to engage a modern audience while preserving the core cultural narrative.
The organising committee confirmed the addition of the cockroach figure and said it is intended to convey a symbolic message, though the exact rationale was not detailed in the statement. The move has drawn curiosity from spectators who are accustomed to the traditional demon‑king effigies.
Authorities have assured that safety measures will be in place for the large pyre, and the event is expected to attract the usual crowds that gather to witness the symbolic triumph of good over evil during Dussehra.
The inclusion of the cockroach effigy reflects a broader trend of incorporating contemporary themes into age‑old rituals, aiming to engage a modern audience while preserving the core cultural narrative.