Let's play Dandiya Kekti Dave

As a multi racial country, India enjoys the luxury of having innumerable festivals. Over the years, most of these festivals have been reduced to an obligation. However, there's one festival when people of any caste or creed thoroughly enjoy themselves. That auspicious festival is Navratri

Navratri is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word Navratri itself means nine nights in Sanskrit. During these days, nine forms of female divinity are worshipped. The pujas are followed by dandiya - the sword dance.

For the youth, rituals and legends don't matter. The only thing that they want is to dance with their dear ones for ten full days.

Our telly stars don't always have the luxury of celebrating a festival with their family. In fact, these festivals get incorporated into their shows. Thus it implies that the actors can't be themselves while enacting such episodes. Dandiya is all about shedding your inihibtions and simply moving your body. Our poor actors have to get each of their steps right while doing dandiya in their serials.

Media spoke to few telly stars and asked them the difference in dancing before the camera and off it.

Ketki Dave: There was no Sankalp or Prerna during our days. I would perform with my friends from theatre. I belong to South Mumbai, where we had various maidans (grounds) hosting dandiya. There weren't many people then so we had ample space to dance. You don't find that in a populous city today.

I enjoy playing dandiya in soaps. I first experienced it in the early years of KyunKi Saas.. We used to have numerous retakes but it was fun.

Stage Shows: This year, I'm planning to celebrate Navratri by performing in a stage shows at Indore.