Dancer and actress Rukmini Vijayakumar is looking forward to the festive season as it has always been a favorite of hers since childhood. On the fourth day of Navratri, marked by the color orange, we catch up with her to discuss her fond memories of the festival growing up and what orange, symbolizing enthusiasm and vitality, means to her. "My childhood memories of Navratri revolve around setting up the Golu (display of dolls) with my brother and cousins. We would also have friendly competitions to choose the best part of the display and the finest dolls," she recounts to Bangalore Times. As a dancer, dressing in vibrant attire is integral to her profession, but does the color orange hold any special significance for her? "Orange brings to mind the sun, flowers, the tint on my feet after removing red ink (alta) during my younger days, and henna stains. This color also evokes festivity, symbolizing joy and unity. In Indian festivals, colors play a significant role, with orange and yellow being prominent in all celebratory occasions," Rukmini shares, adding, "Orange makes me feel cheerful yet driven, igniting a passion to achieve great things in life." Her mother interjects, mentioning that, for her, orange symbolizes wisdom.

In addition to the creative element, Navratri also held a lot of dancing for Rukmini. "Some of my cherished memories of Navratri include attending Dandiya dances at night. My mother was strict about outings when I was young, allowing me only during Navratri nights. We would dance energetically all night, even if it meant coming back with sore feet and bandaged toes," she reveals.She vividly remembers her joyous dancing days. However, Rukmini believes that the meaning of festivals has evolved with time. She observes that there are fewer Dandiya nights now compared to her childhood. Her fondest memory of the festive season is during Navratri when she used to attend dance classes at her teacher's house. She explains that the significance of Vijayadashami for dancing motivated her to continue the tradition, with her students now attending her classes on that auspicious day.