Dancer and actress Rukmini Vijayakumar is looking forward to the festive season, as she has always cherished celebrations since her childhood. On the fourth day of Navratri, associated with the color orange, we chat with her about the festival, her nostalgic recollections of growing up with it, and what orange signifies to her, symbolizing enthusiasm and vitality. "My fondest memories of Navratri involve setting up golu (gombe) displays as a child. My siblings, cousins, and I also enjoyed planting ragi seeds and observing their growth. We would compete to determine the best part of the golu and the finest dolls," she recounts to Bangalore Times.
As a dancer, vibrant costumes are integral to her profession, but does the color orange hold a special meaning? "When I envision orange, I am reminded of the sun, flowers, and the tint my feet acquired after washing off alta (red dye) in my younger days, as well as henna stains. Orange evokes thoughts of festivities, symbolizing joy and unity. In Indian festivals, colors play a pivotal role, with orange and yellow prominently featured in every celebratory occasion," Rukmini shares, noting, "Orange fills me with jubilation, coupled with a fiery determination, propelling me towards significant accomplishments in life." Her mother interjects from the background, expressing that for her, orange conveys knowledge.
Rukmini further discloses that Navratri also brought with it ample opportunities for dancing. "My most cherished memories of Navratri involve dancing Dandiya late into the night. When I was young, my mother was quite strict and rarely allowed me to go out at night, except during Navratri. We would dance through the night, even though it left my feet sore and blistered, necessitating tape around my toes," she explains.She remembers how joyful it was to dance. Rukmini believes that the meaning of festivals has evolved. She notes that there are fewer Dandiya nights now compared to her childhood. Recalling her favorite festive memory, she shares, "Every Navratri, I used to attend dance classes at my teacher's house as Vijayadashami was significant for dancing. Nowadays, my students attend my dance class on Vijayadashami, making it a special occasion for me."
