Sambalpur: At one Sambalpur puja, Dussehra celebrations have taken a political twist. This time, along with Ravana, the Sri Ram Vijayadashami Mahotsav Puja Samiti has erected an 80-foot effigy of a cockroach for ceremonial burning on Tuesday. Dubbed the “Kalyug Cockroach”, the effigy bears political slogans, adding a contemporary twist to the traditional Dussehra spectacle.The effigy with the word cockroach has been drawing considerable public attention with organisers seeking to draw a parallel between evil and the alleged misuse of knowledge in contemporary society.Girish Patel, the main organiser, alleged that people associated with the ‘cockroach’ group possessed knowledge but were involved in activities against the nation. He further alleged that some people were misleading the youth in the name of protests.“Such elements pose a threat to the country. Therefore, along with Ravana, the symbolic cockroach will also be burnt on Oct 20,” Patel said.
