India, Oct. 14 -- F or dancer-actor Lauren Gottlieb, who was born and raised in the US, Navratri may not have been a childhood tradition, but the fervour of the festival has found a special place in her heart. And it is her love for dance that has drawn her closer to the celebrations. "The kind of love and warmth you feel during festivals, especially Navratri, is unmissable, and all nine days hold a special place in my heart because of my love for dance,"she shares. One of her favourite ways to soak in the festive spirit is to take to the stage. "Somehow, whenever there's a stage, I find my way onto it. Performing at big garba and dandiya celebrations and exchanging energy with the crowd is one of my favourite ways to experience the festival," she says, adding, "There's something beautiful about people coming together and dancing for hours, across generations, with so much joy and devotion. Movement becomes a shared celebration." When it comes to festive food, the 38-year-old has learnt that resisting a tempting spread is easier said than done. She sums up her approach with a playful take on the Indian hospitality she has come to love: "Anyone who's celebrated in India knows that saying 'no, thank you' usually just means another helping on your yummy festive thali is on its way, so I've learned to stay hungry and enjoy the falhari thali to the fullest!"...