Diwali quiz
Light a diya and test your Diwali knowledge.
10 multiple-choice questions, with the answer explained after each one.
Answer each question, see why, and beat your best score.
All 10 questions and answers
Want to check an answer or run the quiz out loud? Every question is here, with the answer hidden until you open it.
- Diwali is popularly known as the festival of…
- Lights
- Kites
- Colours
- Harvest
Show answer
Lights. Holi is the festival of colours.
- What are the small clay oil lamps lit at Diwali called?
- Rangolis
- Diyas
- Kalash
- Torans
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Diyas. They're placed along doorways and windows.
- Which goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped at Diwali?
- Saraswati
- Durga
- Parvati
- Lakshmi
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Lakshmi. Lakshmi Puja is held on the main day of Diwali.
- In many traditions, Diwali celebrates Rama's return to which city?
- Lanka
- Varanasi
- Ayodhya
- Mathura
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Ayodhya. He returned after defeating Ravana.
- What are the colourful patterns made on floors at Diwali called?
- Rangoli
- Kolam only
- Alpana only
- Mehndi
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Rangoli. They're made with coloured powder, rice or flowers. Kolam and alpana are regional styles.
- Diwali falls on the new moon (amavasya) of which Hindu month?
- Magha
- Chaitra
- Shravana
- Kartika
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Kartika. It usually falls in October or November.
- Which day is usually the first of the five days of Diwali?
- Naraka Chaturdashi
- Govardhan Puja
- Bhai Dooj
- Dhanteras
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Dhanteras. People often buy metal goods on Dhanteras.
- Which day celebrating brothers and sisters usually ends Diwali?
- Raksha Bandhan
- Karva Chauth
- Bhai Dooj
- Dhanteras
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Bhai Dooj. Sisters pray for their brothers' wellbeing.
- What do Sikhs celebrate at the same time as Diwali?
- Gurpurab
- Bandi Chhor Divas
- Lohri
- Vaisakhi
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Bandi Chhor Divas. It marks Guru Hargobind's release from prison.
- For Jains, Diwali marks…
- The new harvest
- The birth of Buddha
- The monsoon's end
- The nirvana of Lord Mahavira
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The nirvana of Lord Mahavira. Diwali is significant across several faiths.