Dancer and actor Rukmini Vijayakumar is looking forward to the festive season as it has always been a source of joy for her since her childhood. On the fourth day of Navratri, symbolized by the color orange, we chat with her about the festival, her cherished childhood memories, and the significance of the color orange, which represents enthusiasm and vitality. Rukmini fondly recalls her childhood days of setting up golu (gombe) and planting ragi seeds with her brother and cousins. They would compete to see who had the best display, complete with dolls. As a dancer who often wears vibrant costumes, the color orange holds special meaning for her. To Rukmini, orange brings to mind the sun, flowers, and childhood memories of alta (red ink) and henna stains. She associates orange with joy, togetherness, and a drive to achieve great things in life. Her mother interjects, highlighting that for her, orange symbolizes knowledge. Rukmini also shares that Navratri involved a lot of dancing for her, especially enjoying late-night Dandiya dance sessions. Despite strict rules at home, she would eagerly anticipate these nights as they offered a rare opportunity to socialize and dance to her heart's content, even if it meant some minor injuries from the spirited dancing.She still remembers dancing joyously during festivals. Rukmini believes that the essence of festivals has evolved over the years, noting the decline of Dandiya nights compared to her childhood. Recalling her favorite festive memory, she mentions attending dance classes at her teacher's house during Navratri, emphasizing the significance of Vijayadashami for dancing. Now, her students join her dance class for Vijayadashami, making it a special occasion for her.