Maya/Neel New Book: Rakhi and Cricket!
🚀 Exciting News Alert! 🚀
We’re thrilled to unveil our newest adventure in the Maya & Neel series! 🏏📚 Get ready to dive into the world of cricket and celebrate Raksha Bandhan like never before – with a twist! 🌟💖 This story is all about inclusivity, breaking gender norms, and showing that Rakhi is for everyone! 🎉👫👬đź‘
Join Maya, Neel, and Chintu as they discover the true spirit of Raksha Bandhan, where siblings and friends tie Rakhis to each other, regardless of gender. đź‘«đź’« Let’s redefine tradition together!
#NewBookAlert #InclusiveRakhi #CricketLovers #MayaAndNeel #RakshaBandhan #BreakingNorms #ChildrenBooks #DiversityAndInclusion #AdventureAwaits
Get your copy today!
Celebrate Raksha Bandhan Like Never Before – Boys and Girls tie Rakhis to each other, Best Friends join in, and Sisters protect their Brothers too!
Dive into a Modern and Inclusive Raksha Bandhan adventure with Maya, Neel, and Chintu as they celebrate this beautiful festival. Along the way, they also learn the rules of Cricket (India’s favorite sport), practice their batting and bowling skills, and enjoy the camaraderie and excitement of the game.
Raksha Bandhan is a festival that honors the bond between siblings. Traditionally, sisters tie Rakhi (decorative thread) to their brothers, wishing for their long life while brothers promise to protect their sisters.
In this book’s heartwarming celebrations, we attempt to expand the festival to embrace inclusivity and empower girls by highlighting their strength and protective roles. Our goal is to foster a sense of overall love and protection.
Why Choose This Book?
#16 in the beloved Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series, this exciting book uniquely combines India’s favorite festival with the country’s most beloved sport. You will find:
Unique Perspective: A book that celebrates Raksha Bandhan with an inclusive, gender-neutral approach.
Cultural Insights: Learn about the customs of Raksha Bandhan and the basics of playing cricket, from batting and bowling to fielding and scoring.
Non-Religious Content for a Global Audience: Perfect for families of all backgrounds looking to explore new cultures.
Educational Fun: Combines storytelling with cultural education, making learning enjoyable.
Order Today!
Bring home this book today and embark on a journey of love, friendship, cultural discovery, and cricket excitement. Perfect for children aged 3-8 and a must-have addition to your bookshelf!
About Our Mission
Maya & Neel’s India Adventures 10+ Book Series is written with the mission to RAISE MULTICULTURAL KIDS! We are Indie authors and 1st generation Indian immigrants, who have dedicated the past 15 years to spreading multiculturalism through dance & culture workshops as well as through this book series whose extreme popularity has taken even us by surprise. To all our little and grownup readers: Thank You for supporting our work & mission!
For bulk orders or author visits, please contact ajanta@bollygroove.com
Our Series is Available Worldwide (BollyGroove.com/Books)
Festivals: Diwali, Holi, Navratri, Raksha Bandhan, Vaisakhi, Ramadan & Eid Mythology: Ganesha, Krishna, Ramayana Places: Delhi & Taj Mahal, Mumbai Wedding Diwali & Holi 50 Activity Book Gift Sets 1 & 2
Free Workshops & Social Media
Facebook: @culturegroove Instagram: @culturegroovekids
Free dances/stories/crafts workshops in a community of 4,400 families: BollyGroove.com/free
A Children’s Book to Break Gender Norms
Growing up in a city steeped in gender bias, Raksha Bandhan always evoked a complex mix of emotions in me. From as early as age five, I began rebelling against the phrases “girls can’t do that” or “girls are weaker,” and the premise of Raksha Bandhan never sat right with me.
For those unfamiliar with the festival, Raksha Bandhan is an annual Indian celebration where sisters tie a decorative thread (Rakhi) around their brother’s wrist. The sister wishes for her brother’s long life, and in return, the brother promises to protect her. Protect. Only protect. Because, of course, she needs all the protection while he simply needs to live long 🙂
Looking at the stories associated with this festival, the same theme emerges repeatedly. The epic Mahabharata has a harrowing episode where Draupadi is protected by Krishna in a moment of crisis. The now-questioned story of Rani Karnavati being saved by Emperor Humayun follows the same pattern.
Efforts have been made to justify or tweak these narratives. “Ajanta, you are making a big deal out of it. Just think of it as a festival to celebrate the sibling bond,” people say. But then, why doesn’t the brother tie a Rakhi on his sister? Why don’t two brothers or two sisters celebrate it? Wouldn’t they also get a chance to showcase their love and care through this festival?
That’s where the idea for this book came about. The festival has such a wonderful overall sentiment. Why not extend it beyond gender norms? One of the main characters experiences this realization right in the book’s pivotal scene.
Don’t get me wrong—I am terrified. We are challenging the fundamentals of a centuries-old festival, and there is a significant chance we will face harsh criticism. But the desire and conviction to strip away the gender norms from a beautiful festival and transform it into the ultimate celebration of a loving bond triumphs every time.
#BreakTheBias #MayaNeelBooks #GenderNorms #NewBookRelease
#ModernTraditions #CelebrateLove #GenderEquality
5 Reasons why Kids should learn Mythology
1. Engaging Stories
Myths are typically filled with compelling stories that capture the imagination.
These narratives often feature heroes, gods, and magical creatures that intrigue children and hold their attention.
This makes learning about the culture that produced these myths more enjoyable and memorable.
For example, the delightful story of Krishna sneaking butter makes every child smile!
2. Cultural Values and Norms
Myths often reflect the values, morals, and societal norms of the cultures they come from.
Through these stories, children can learn about what various cultures might value in terms of bravery, wisdom, honesty, and other virtues.
This helps children understand and respect cultural differences.
For example, Hindu mythology has numerous stories about bravery, about taking a risk for the benefit of the masses, and so on. The story of Krishna facing the fearsome Kaliya demonstrates exactly that!
3. Historical Context
Many myths are steeped in the historical and environmental context of a culture.
They can provide insights into how people in those cultures lived, what they feared, what they celebrated, and how they explained natural phenomena or the universe around them.
For example, wit and intelligence has long been celebrated around the world over brute strength. Ganesha, known for his wit and wisdom, is believed to have won a contest with his brother of racing around the world by simply circling around his parents and calling them his “world”!
4. Critical Thinking
Myths often present complex narratives with moral dilemmas and philosophical questions.
This can help children develop critical thinking skills as they analyze the characters’ decisions and the consequences of those decisions.
For example, Ganesha’s mother asked her to guard the door as she took a bath. Shiva, Ganesha’s father and who Ganesha had never met before, tried to enter. Ganesha fearlessly takes on the mighty Shiva and even gets injured in the process. It sure provides something to think about to the kids!
5. Universal Themes
While myths are culturally specific, they often deal with universal themes like love, conflict, adventure, and transformation.
This can help children see the commonalities between their own culture and others, promoting empathy and global awareness.
For example, the story of Krishna’s father carrying him in a basket on his head and crossing a river to take Krishna to safety, sounds a bit familiar to Moses in the basket.
Similarly, Krishna facing his evil uncle, Kamsa, in a battle is similar to the stories of Horus and Set!
Get our Krishna and Ganesha books
Embark on a delightful journey through Indian mythology with our children’s books, “Let’s Celebrate Krishna’s Birthday” and “Let’s Celebrate Ganesha’s Birthday”.
Perfectly tailored for a global audience, these books bring the enchanting stories of Krishna and Ganesha to life in a way that’s fun, educational, and suitable for young readers aged 3-8.
Each book is filled with vibrant illustrations and age-appropriate narratives that capture the essence of India’s rich cultural heritage.
Whether uncovering Krishna’s mischievous escapades or marveling at Ganesha’s wisdom, these stories are designed to entertain, enlighten, and inspire curiosity in children, making them a fantastic addition to any family’s bookshelf.
Featured 5 Fun Kids Books to start the New Year!
Start off the new year with these five kids’ books about New Beginnings!
Let’s Celebrate Ganesha’s Birthday!
People often associate Ganesha with new beginnings.
Check out this festival book with adorable stories!
A Growth Mindset Book that Teaches Children that it’s OK to Make Mistakes and start fresh!
A little girl unsure of her talent discovers her passion for dance!Â
Perfect book about trying new things!
Sometimes a new beginning can be about the most ordinary things such as…
getting a new haircut!
Beyond the Colors – 6 concepts of Holi celebrated through 50 activities!
You might have heard about Holi, the famous festival of colors from India. You might have seen stunning images of people covered in color from head to toe, celebrating with joyous abandonment!
But is there more to Holi than colors? And if so, how do you explore them with your kids in a fun & engaging way? In our latest book, we provide you easy ways for you to do just this!
Other than the usual RECIPES, GAMES, PUZZLES ETC. Let’s explore these 6 sub-concepts of Holi!
1. Bravery
The story of Holi is steeped in bravery. Imagine a little boy who defies an evil king and actually perseveres?
This little boy’s name was Prahlad and Holi is celebrated to honor his bravery. You can find the entire story in our Maya/Neel story book.
So Holi is a perfect time to talk about bravery and what it really means to be brave – no matter the age. Activities are great conversation starters and our new activity book provides you just that including a very cool Prahlad Bonfire Lamp!
Template & Instructions
2. Friendship
It is no hidden secret that every society has some way of classifying and separating people. And Holi acts as one of the best equalizers in Indian society!
The day of Holi is meant for people to put aside their differences and celebrate together. The easiest concept of such an equalizing factor for kids is to look at it from the lens of friendship.
So have a conversation with your kids about what makes someone a good friend and how to show appreciation for their friends. Aiding you in the process can be some very fun activities including helping Chintu, the pet squirrel and the most popular character from Maya/Neel books, climb up the friendship ladder!
3. Dances
No Indian celebration is complete without the beautiful songs and dances! Bollywood has made its own mark on Holi by coming up with upbeat songs with infectious beats that still capture the essence of Indian folk music!
Our book provides you with SEVEN different dance & movement experiences that you can learn and enjoy and are completely kid-friendly.
4. Flowers
Flowers have always been a favorite topic in Indian art. Whether its ancient literature, paintings or music, flowers have been fervently explored as being equallly associated with the divine to the mortals.
Holi is a spring festival and the book gave me the perfect opportunity to talk about flowers of India and introduce some fun facts about them.
Did you know that long time ago, Palash flower, also called flame-of-the-forest, was used to make Holi colors?
5. Moon
Moon is similarly popular topic in India. It is associated with romance, kinship, and so much more. Did you know, moon is referred as Mama or the maternal uncle?
Like most other Indian festivals, Holi is followed according to the lunar calendar. And every year, Holi is always celebrated on the full moon day.
There is no shortage of fun activities to explore moon and we offer you a few in the book as well including your very own Moon countdown tracker to Holi.
6. Colors
And of course, the most important one – Colors!
Colors are the essence of this festival and the joy of being covered in and splashing them on your friends is indescribable!
So explore colors while talking about Holi but also look for other ways to connect them to India e.g. the Hindi words of common colors. We offer many such ways of exploring colors in the activity book.