As part of the Vijayadashami festivities, a Ramlila committee in Pitampura, Delhi, has announced plans to burn a 30-foot effigy shaped like a cockroach. This event, scheduled for this evening, deviates from the traditional practice of burning effigies representing mythological figures associated with evil.

According to organizers, the unconventional effigy serves as a symbolic gesture to promote cleanliness and hygiene awareness within the community. The event is expected to draw significant crowds to the Pitampura grounds, where the structure will be set ablaze alongside more traditional displays. While the burning of effigies is a standard component of the festival, the inclusion of a pest-themed structure highlights a trend of using public rituals to draw attention to modern social issues, such as sanitation and waste management. No further details regarding the specific environmental impact of the materials used for the effigy or the reaction of local religious authorities were provided in the initial reports.