Dasara is a celebration of tradition and family bonding: Shivani Rajashekar

Shivani Rajashekar was in high spirits when Hyderabad Times caught up with her ahead of Dasara. Her song, Lingi Lingi Lingidi from Kotabommali PS is the talk of the town. The actress returned to Hyderabad from Chennai to celebrate the festival with parents Rajashekar and Jeevitha, and sister Shivathmika. In an exclusive interview, she opens up about her childhood memories, how she’s celebrating Vijayadashami this year and what makes the festival special to her.

‘Bommala koluvu is a family tradition’
Every year, my pinni in Chennai sets up a bommala koluvu, adding new dolls and avatars to create a delightful display. My sister, Shivathmika, and I have cherished memories of visiting Chennai to admire the bommala koluvu. It’s a tradition we uphold to this day. This year, a family friend treated us to an incredible Bharatanatyam performance.

‘Movies are an integral part of the festivities’
Movies have been an integral part of our family since my childhood and that hasn’t changed. Dasara always brings a slew of film releases, and sometimes my father’s movies would also release during this time. It has since become a tradition for our family to catch the latest releases in theatres. Just the other day we all went to the theatre to watch Vijay’s latest film.

‘Durga puja is a time for family’
In my childhood, Dasara was synonymous with carefree days devoid of school. We lived in a gated community at that time, where we celebrated the festival with our neighbours. Durga Puja was a vibrant affair, featuring dandiya nights, a diverse buffet of delicious foods, and joyful moments with friends and family. As we grew older, finding time amidst our busy schedules became more challenging. Nevertheless, what is Dasara without spending it with family?

‘Just can’t get enough of the pulihora and payasam’
My absolute favourite festive dish is the pulihora. I can’t resist indulging in two or three servings of this delightful tamarind rice dish. Vada served with tangy tomato chutney is a close second. The combination of the soft and fluffy vada with the spicy and tangy chutney is a match made in heaven. Coconut milk payasam that’s chilled to perfection also holds a special place in my heart.

‘I love dressing up in sarees’
When Shivathmika and I were children, we would wear matching outfits that were painstakingly stitched for the occasion. Over the years, we have switched to sarees. We saw our mother always looking graceful in the garment and wanted to follow suit. Now that I’m older and taller, I’m a pro at draping sarees. Adorning sarees and half-sarees for festivals is a tradition I hold dear.