Virtual Diwali Tour

We are so excited to announce the 2022 Virtual Author Tour.

With three Maya/Neel books on Diwali, now is the perfect time to schedule your Author Visit!

Let Bestselling Author and Presenter, Ajanta, take over for an hour and engage your students’ or coworkers’ imagination by sharing an inspiring presentation on Diwali, the festival of lights of India.

Using a combination of Joyful Movement, Indian music, and Stories, Ajanta will create an ultimate exciting and engaging experience!


Ajanta is the co-founder of Bollywood & Culture Groove and for the past 10 years, has endlessly worked towards spreading the joy of culture! She is the award-winning co-author of Maya/Neel book series. Her work has been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, Elle Magazine, Neilsen Media, Sun-Times, Univision, Al Jazira+, and more.

Explore Maya/Neel Diwali Books

 

We hope to bring the magic and excitement of Diwali to your School, Library, or Organization.

Happy Diwali!

What People Say

Ajanta was amazing. The kids loved her. They were super engaged throughout the whole lesson. Very educational and entertaining!
Natalie Ridley
We organized a virtual party for my daughter Sarah during the lockdown. Ajanta was amazing and the party was a great success! Children and families connected through Zoom and learned a traditional dance and it's meaning. Thank you for the great experience!
Luz Camey De Wierzbicki, Event client
We no longer live in Chicago but my daughter and I both love the kids and adults Bollywood groove classes! The adult classes are a fantastic workout and I have not found anything as good in Atlanta. The kids dance classes are perfectly paced for this age group, interspersed with story telling and culture and a virtual recital at the end. Love, love, love Ajanta!
Anisha Madan, Parent & Cardio Participant
I'm not sure how I haven't written a review here before. I've been taking these classes for a year and a half now. I've never stuck with a workout that long. I love Ajanta. Somehow after dancing all day she still has more energy than I have when I wake up. I work out harder in BG than I do in any other workout I do; it's probably because I'm having so much fun that I don't even realize how hard I'm breathing. I highly recommend these classes.
Kristina D., Cardio Participant
My four-year-old daughter loves dance classes with Bollywood Groove! She has been taking classes for eight months - first at her school and now online. I highly recommend this program for kids and adults! It's a great workout with catchy music and awesome dance moves. Class also has a bit of education regarding India (the language, culture, etc). Truly a wonderful experience.
Rosemarie C., Parent
We had a virtual 5th birthday party last week put on by Bollywood Groove. The organization of the event was taken care of and we were provided simple instructions as to how to manage the party. The party itself was full of energy, perfectly themed, and fun for all! the birthday girl loved it, as did all of the attendees!
Molly S., Event Client
Wonderful Bollywood birthday party for my eight year old grandson via Zoom. Friends and relatives from all over the country were able to participate. And they DID because of the excellent example, enthusiasm, and creativity of the teacher!  One party goer said that it was the most fun he'd had since COVID-19 quarantine began. I went all out and felt accomplished after the exercise.
Marie L., Event Client
By far the most energizing virtual workout I have been to all year! Ajanta was such a lively instructor and amazing at engaging the group. Such a fun way to get a workout in!
Haylee K., Cardio Participant
This place is so much fun. It doesn't even feel like you're working out because the music is lively and everyone is so into it. Definitely give it a try. You won't regret it.
Smitha M., Cardio Participant
This is a review for the zoom kids class. Love the choreography, music selections, your style of teaching. Ms Ajanta you are energetic, and we love your manner of explanation to the kids. We also love how you've incorporated story time regarding Indian culture during your breaks. My son doesn't know any Hindi but is able to dance to the songs and has learnt some awesome moves! This class has been enriching at so many levels but most importantly the kids love you and they have fun! You make the parents want to sit in and dance as well! I often find most Bollywood song choreographies very redundant but yours is unique and fun!
Suzann W., Parent
Bollywood Groove helped my company celebrate Diwali virtually with employees from across the country! The class was the perfect blend of cultural learning and dancing. Ajanta was able to tie in different parts of Diwali with each of the dance moves. Everyone who joined the virtual dance class loved Ajanta's high energy and how engaging she was. I definitely recommend Bollywood Groove for any parties/corporate events/etc. as a fun, lively, and educational event - that can be done virtually!
Haley T., Corporate Client
By far the most energizing virtual workout I have been to all year! Ajanta was such a lively instructor and amazing at engaging the group. Such a fun way to get a workout in!
Halyee K, bG Cardio Attendee
Ajanta’s energetic workshop received nothing but positive exclamations from our Dell Team members! She makes diversity and inclusion through culture sharing engaging, fun, interactive and absolutely refreshing against our typical day-to-day.
Rebecca Le, Dell, Corporate Workshop Organizer
Bollywood Groove has been AMAZING! We have been joining the virtual classes over the past month and the level of instruction is unmatched. My 3yo is blossoming!
Elizabeth Malec Saha, Parent

Dhanteras Craft – Day 1 of Diwali

Diwali is celebrated over 5 days. Day 1, also called Dhanteras, is the day to go shopping!
Traditionally, people buy either pots and pans or jewelry. I have such fond memories of visiting the markets with my Mom and I tried very hard to capture that in our book as well.
Let’s celebrate Dhanteras by making this simple cardboard bracelet craft!
Step 1. Get some toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Cut a slit so that you can open and wrap it around your child’s wrist. I cut the roll in half to fit my kid’s wrist.
Step 2. Apply glue all over the cardboard.
Step 3. Use lots of decorative materials including gems and glitters. We especially loved using flower gems for this craft,
Step 4. Stick them all over the cardboard roll. We did them in horizontal stripes.
And your Dhanteras cardboard bracelet is ready!

Diwali craft for kids – Decorative Diya

Diwali, the festival of lights from India, is the biggest festival of India. It is time for joyful celebration, sweets and of course, fireworks and lights!

Learn about Diwali and its 5 days of celebration from this Bestselling book.

Diya is the clay lamp used during Diwali to light up the whole house.

Here is a fun craft for kids to make their own decorative Diya.

What you’ll need

Construction paper

Scissors/Glue

Gold paper circles – or cut with scissors to make the shape

Felt circles– or cut with scissors to make the shape

Cake circles – Or stick gold paper on cardboard

Step 1. Cut a felt circle into half to make a semi-circle.

Step 2. Glue a felt circle and a semi-circle to a cake circle. The semi-circle is for the lamp and the full circle makes the background of the flame.

Step 3. Add more layers to the flame background by gluing a gold paper circle to the felt circle.

Step 4. Cut construction paper to cut a big and a small flame shape. We used a squeeze punch to do this.

Step 5. Glue the 2 flames shapes on the flame background. Your Diya craft is now complete!