Radhika Pandit's memories of Dussehra

What makes Dussehra really exciting is that it is celebrated across the country in different ways,” begins actor Radhika Pandit.

Dussehra happens to be quite an important festival in Karnataka is celebrated across the state in style.

The Malleshwaram girl, who has some fond memories of the festival, says that she loves how her locality transforms into a hub of activity on those days. “On one side we have the Durga Puja happening, while on the other you can be part of dandiya nights followed by a group of people celebrating with the Golu dolls. Dussehra is so much fun!”

Talking about the manner in which traditional Kannadigas celebrate the festival, she explains, “The celebrations kick off with the arranging of ritualistic Golu dolls (festive dolls), and ends after 10 days with all sorts of indulgences thrown in. Of course, sweets are the most important item in our diet  on those days! The Paattada Gombe is a traditional doll that is kept on the first tier of the nine tiers, followed by other dolls. People also make 10 different sweets on these 10 days. While we don’t celebrate the festival in a grand manner, we do a simple puja at home.”

All the memories, which surround this festival, make it more special for the actor. “One of my fondest memories is how I’d celebrated in in three different ways during my childhood. A few of friends, who live in nearby apartments, organised dandiya nights and I remember running around to get my costumes and accessories right. It’s so much fun to celebrate the festival with strangers. There is a Bengali pandal close to my locality where the Durga Puja takes place. From phuchkas (pani puri) to traditional Bengal sweets, I’ve munched on them all,” reminisces Radhika.

And while she no longer celebrates they way she did as a child, this festive season has surely brought in a lot of fortune for Radhika. The actor, who is currently shuffling between four projects, says, “Good work inspires me and I am conscious about being part of such movies. Success and failure is not in my hands, but as an actor I have a responsibility to give 100% in every movie that I am part of.”

Radhika currently has Alemaari with Yogesh, Breaking News with Ajai Rao, Sagar with Prajwal Devaraj and Adhuri with Dhruva Sarja in the pipeline.