An unusual sanitation awareness initiative during Vijayadashami celebrations in the national capital has erupted into a sharp political confrontation. Alongside the conventional mythological effigies, organisers set alight a gigantic insect structure to highlight the hazards of unhygienic surroundings. While the event committee defended the move as an innovative campaign against disease and squalor, political opponents strongly objected, terming it an unlawful distortion of long-standing festive customs.
An Unconventional Spectacle at Pitampura Grounds
The Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee staged the unique burning at the Delhi Development Authority grounds located in Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. During the Tuesday evening festivities, a 30-foot-tall cockroach structure was positioned right beside the towering representations of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad. The colossal insect effigy drew widespread curiosity and quickly became the focal point for the large crowd gathered at the venue before it was set ablaze.
Organisers Link Effigy to Public Health and Hygiene
Defending the concept, committee president and BJP legislator from Model Town, Ashok Goel Devraha, stated that the insect represented a pressing civic problem. He explained that cockroaches thrive in filthy conditions and serve as key triggers for respiratory ailments like asthma and severe allergies. The committee urged citizens to take active personal responsibility for maintaining hygiene within their homes and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Prominent Dignitaries in Attendance
Several prominent political and community leaders participated as chief guests in the gathering. Rajya Sabha member from the BJP, Arun Singh, noted that Dussehra serves as a vital reminder to uphold the principles of righteousness and duty. Minister in the Delhi government Kapil Mishra stressed the importance of integrating festive lessons into everyday conduct. Kapil Khanna, head of the Delhi unit of Vishva Hindu Parishad, observed that cultural festivals like Ramlila safeguard Indian traditions while fostering community solidarity.
Aam Aadmi Party Lodges Official Complaint
The unconventional burning immediately drew fierce condemnation from the Aam Aadmi Party. Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj submitted formal complaints to Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar seeking immediate action against the organisers. Posting on the social platform X, Bharadwaj alleged that the act deliberately hurt religious sentiments, distorted sacred Hindu practices, and risked inciting community discord, thereby turning an environmental drive into an intense political dispute.
