Why do we light diyas? What is Dhanteras? 24 Diwali questions about the story of Rama, the five days of the festival, and how Hindus, Sikhs and Jains celebrate. Play online or print for class. The page also has a table of the five days, how different communities celebrate and 8 bonus questions.
Diwali quiz to print (PDF)
These four pages show the printable Diwali quiz: a multiple-choice sheet, a write-in sheet, the answer key and a black-and-white sheet that saves ink. Click any picture for the PDF, or use the quiz maker below to choose the number of questions and the paper size.
How to play the Diwali quiz
- Pick the options above the quiz (questions, timer) and answer each question by tapping an answer, or press 1 to 4 on a keyboard.
- A correct answer moves on by itself; a wrong one shows the right answer so you learn it.
- At the end you get your score, stars and your best score so far, plus a list of the answers to learn.
- Press Challenge a friend to send a link with exactly the same questions, or Practice the ones I missed to go again.
Diwali quiz night tips
- Play in teams: put the quiz on a TV or laptop and let each team shout its answer (or write it down).
- Set the timer to 20 seconds to keep things moving.
- Print the quiz with an answer key for a pen-and-paper round.
All 24 Diwali quiz questions and answers
- Diwali is also known as the festival of… Lights
- Which goddess is worshipped on Diwali night in many homes? Lakshmi
- Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to which city? Ayodhya
- How many years was Lord Rama in exile before returning home? 14
- Who was with Lord Rama when he returned to Ayodhya? Sita and Lakshmana
- Which small clay lamps are lit on Diwali? Diyas
- What are the colorful patterns made at the entrance of homes on Diwali? Rangoli
- The festival of Dhanteras comes how many days before Diwali? 2
- Which festival, the day after Diwali in many places, honors Lord Krishna lifting a hill? Govardhan Puja
- Which festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters after Diwali? Bhai Dooj
- Which day begins the five days of Diwali? Dhanteras
- On which night of the lunar month is Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) celebrated? New moon (Amavasya)
- Sikhs celebrate which day at the same time as Diwali? Bandi Chhor Divas
- Jains mark Diwali as the day of whose liberation (nirvana)? Lord Mahavira
- Which sweet made of milk solids is popular at Diwali? Barfi
- What is Choti Diwali also called? Naraka Chaturdashi
- Which demon did Lord Krishna defeat on Naraka Chaturdashi? Narakasura
- Which festival, about 20 days before Diwali, celebrates Rama’s victory over Ravana? Dussehra
- What is a common Diwali tradition in homes before the festival? Cleaning and decorating the house
- In Bengal, which goddess is worshipped on Diwali night? Kali
- Which metal is traditionally bought on Dhanteras? Gold or silver
- How many days does the Diwali festival usually last? 5
- What do many businesses start on Diwali in parts of India? A new account book
- What is the name of the decorative door hanging made of leaves and flowers? Toran
The five days of Diwali: facts behind the answers
Many questions in the Diwali quiz ask about the five days of the festival. This table gives the order, so you can answer quickly and explain the answers to children:
| Day | Name | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhanteras | People clean their homes and buy a little gold, silver or a new utensil for good fortune |
| 2 | Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) | Remembers Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura, with early-morning baths and lamps |
| 3 | Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) | The main night, on the new moon, with rows of diyas, rangoli and worship of Lakshmi |
| 4 | Govardhan Puja | Remembers Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill, and in some places marks the new year |
| 5 | Bhai Dooj | Sisters pray for their brothers, who give them gifts |
How different communities celebrate Diwali
In every Diwali quiz the answers differ by community, because Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and each tradition has its own story for the festival of lights. The lights and the sweets are shared, but the reasons differ:
| Community | What Diwali means |
|---|---|
| Hindus | The return of Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile, and the worship of Lakshmi |
| Sikhs | Bandi Chhor Divas, the day Guru Hargobind was released from Gwalior Fort, with lights at the Golden Temple |
| Jains | The day Lord Mahavira reached nirvana, remembered with lamps and prayers |
Diwali quiz for kids: easy, medium and hard questions
A Diwali quiz for kids should start with questions they know from home, such as the name of the lamps and the colored patterns at the door. We have sorted the 24 questions into three levels so you can choose:
| Level | Questions | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | Q1, Q2, Q3, Q6, Q7, Q19, Q22, Q24 | Ages 5 to 7 |
| Medium | Q4, Q5, Q8, Q10, Q11, Q15, Q18, Q20, Q21 | Ages 8 to 11 and families |
| Hard | Q9, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q16, Q17, Q23 | Teens, adults and quiz finals |
8 bonus Diwali questions
If you need more questions for a Diwali trivia game, use these eight after the 24 in the main list:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which spiral-shaped sweet soaked in syrup is popular at Diwali? | Jalebi |
| In which Himalayan country is the festival called Tihar? | Nepal |
| What is the name of the sparklers that children love on Diwali? | Phuljhadi |
| Which bird is the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi? | The owl |
| Which epic tells the story of Rama? | The Ramayana |
| Which elephant-headed god is worshipped along with Lakshmi? | Ganesha |
| Which Sikh Guru was freed from Gwalior Fort, a story linked to Bandi Chhor Divas? | Guru Hargobind |
| What do people burst on Diwali night, in places where it is allowed, to make light and sound? | Firecrackers |
Diwali quiz online: play on a phone or a TV
To play the Diwali quiz online, press play on the quiz above on a phone, a tablet or a TV, and choose 10 or 20 questions. Press Challenge a friend to send exactly the same questions to a cousin in another city and compare scores. The quiz works well on a video call, because one person can share the screen and everyone shouts the answers.
Diwali trivia game ideas for families
- Play in two teams, one of children and one of adults, and give the children a head start.
- Ask each player to explain the answer in one sentence for a bonus point.
- Follow the quiz with a game of Diwali tambola or the Diwali worksheets for children.
For more about the festival, Wikipedia’s Diwali article describes the history and the customs in detail.
Print this Diwali quiz
Make a printable version for a classroom, a quiz night or homework: choose multiple choice or write-in answers, 10 to 30 questions, and add an answer key. Download a free PDF or print straight away.
Frequently asked questions
4 quick answers
How many questions are in the Diwali quiz?
24. Each game picks 10 or 20 at random, or choose All.
Can we play as teams?
Yes: show the quiz on one screen and let teams take turns, or print it for each team.
What is a good Diwali quiz for kids?
Choose the easy questions first, such as the festival of lights, the lamps called diyas and the goddess Lakshmi. The quiz on this page sorts the 24 questions into easy, medium and hard.
Can I play the Diwali quiz online with family far away?
Yes. Press Challenge a friend to send a link with exactly the same questions, and compare scores, or share your screen on a video call.
More quizzes
- Diwali Quiz Questions With Answers: 60 for Kids and Families: the full guide behind this page
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- Diwali worksheets