Dussehra celebrations in Delhi include the burning of a large cockroach effigy alongside traditional effigies of Ravan. Organisers say the cockroach symbolises filth and is meant to promote cleanliness, linking the event to health and sanitation messaging connected to “Swachh Bharat” and “Swachh Delhi” campaigns.
Abhijeet Dipke and others frame the act differently, saying it functions as a dig at a pressure group associated with the “Cockroach Janta Party.” In coverage, the effigy is presented both as a cleanliness symbol by organisers and as a provocative act by critics who argue the event gives the group “free publicity.” Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra is also reported as describing cockroaches as symbols of chaos and filth, reflecting how some officials interpret the public meaning of the imagery.
Across outlets, the core details remain consistent: the effigy’s size and that it is burnt during Dussehra, plus the dispute over intent. Differences mainly lie in how strongly each source emphasizes the organiser’s cleanliness rationale versus the perception of it as a targeted message, and in which figures are quoted or named.
