Diwali Quiz
This Diwali Quiz has 15 questions, from easy warm-ups to a few real stumpers, each with its answer. Play free, see your score instantly, and share it with friends.
15 questionsMixed (easy → hard)~3 minNo timer
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This Diwali quiz covers the festival of lights from every angle: what Deepavali means, the legends of Rama, Krishna and Lakshmi behind it, the five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, and how Sikhs, Jains, Bengalis and Nepalis each mark the season in their own way. It ends with a few modern facts, including Deepavali's 2025 entry onto UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
With 15 questions moving from easy to tricky, this quiz on Diwali suits school students, families playing together after Lakshmi Puja, office teams looking for a festive activity, and anyone who wants to know more about the stories behind the diyas. It works on any phone, so you can pass it around at a Diwali party or send the link to relatives.
Every question comes with a short explanation. Play first, then open the Diwali quiz questions with answers in the answer key below to revise, and share your score to challenge friends and cousins. Teachers can read the answer key out as a ready-made Diwali quiz for class.
Did you know? Although Diwali is one festival, its main day differs across India: in Tamil Nadu and much of the south, Deepavali is celebrated on Naraka Chaturdashi, usually a day before the Lakshmi Puja that the north celebrates on Amavasya.
Diwali questions with answers
Show answers
What does the word "Deepavali" literally mean?
- Festival of colours
- Row of lamps
- Victory of light
- Night of stars
Answer: Row of lamps. Deepa means lamp and avali means row or series, which is why homes are lit with lines of diyas. 'Festival of colours' is Holi.
In the most popular legend, Diwali celebrates the return of which god to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile?
Photo: Tara Knand, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Krishna
- Shiva
- Rama
- Hanuman
Answer: Rama. The people of Ayodhya are said to have lit lamps to welcome Rama, Sita and Lakshmana home after Ravana's defeat.
Which goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped on the main night of Diwali?
- Saraswati
- Durga
- Parvati
- Lakshmi
Answer: Lakshmi. Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali evening, usually together with Ganesha, to invite prosperity into homes and businesses.
Diwali falls on which night of the Hindu lunar month?
- Purnima (full moon)
- Amavasya (new moon)
- Ekadashi
- Ashtami
Answer: Amavasya (new moon). Diwali is on Amavasya, the darkest night of the month, which makes the rows of lamps all the more symbolic of light beating darkness.
Which first day of the five-day festival is considered lucky for buying gold, silver and new utensils?
Photo: Harvinder Chandigarh, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Dhanteras
- Bhai Dooj
- Govardhan Puja
- Naraka Chaturdashi
Answer: Dhanteras. Dhanteras opens the festival. 'Dhan' means wealth, and it is also linked to Dhanvantari, the god of medicine.
Naraka Chaturdashi, or Chhoti Diwali, marks the defeat of the demon Narakasura by whom?
- Rama
- Krishna
- Hanuman
- Kartikeya
Answer: Krishna. Krishna (with Satyabhama, in many versions) killed Narakasura and freed the people he had imprisoned. In the south this day is often the main Deepavali.
Govardhan Puja recalls Krishna lifting Govardhan hill to shelter the people of Vraj from rains sent by which god?
Photo: Atarax42, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Indra
- Varuna
- Vayu
- Agni
Answer: Indra. Angry that people worshipped the hill instead of him, Indra sent storms. Krishna held up the hill on his little finger for seven days.
Bhai Dooj, the last day of the Diwali festival, celebrates what?
- The harvest
- Ancestors
- The bond between brothers and sisters
- The start of winter
Answer: The bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters put a tilak on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life. It is called Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Bhai Phonta in Bengal.
Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at Diwali to mark the release of which Guru from Gwalior Fort?
Photo: Suyash Dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Guru Nanak
- Guru Arjan Dev
- Guru Hargobind
- Guru Gobind Singh
Answer: Guru Hargobind. Guru Hargobind was freed by the Mughal emperor Jahangir and reached Amritsar, where the Golden Temple was lit up to welcome him.
Jains mark Diwali as the day Mahavira attained nirvana. Where did this happen?
- Pavapuri
- Shravanabelagola
- Palitana
- Bodh Gaya
Answer: Pavapuri. Mahavira attained nirvana at Pavapuri in Bihar. Bodh Gaya, also in Bihar, is where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
In West Bengal, which goddess is worshipped on the night of Diwali?
- Saraswati
- Kali
- Annapurna
- Jagaddhatri
Answer: Kali. Kali Puja is held on the Amavasya night of Diwali in Bengal, Odisha and Assam, with lamps and fireworks in her honour.
During Tihar, Nepal's five-day festival of lights, the day called Kukur Tihar honours which animal?
- Elephant
- Peacock
- Horse
- Dog
Answer: Dog. Kukur means dog in Nepali. Dogs get garlands, a red tika and treats. Other days of Tihar honour crows and cows.
In which year was Deepavali added to UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
- 2016
- 2019
- 2023
- 2025
Answer: 2025. Deepavali was inscribed in December 2025 at the 20th session of UNESCO's intangible heritage committee, which India hosted in New Delhi.
The United States Postal Service issued its first stamp celebrating Diwali in which year?
- 2008
- 2012
- 2016
- 2021
Answer: 2016. The Diwali Forever stamp, showing a lit diya, was released on 5 October 2016 after years of campaigning by Indian-American groups.
For many Gujarati families, when does the New Year (Bestu Varas) begin?
- The day after Diwali
- On Dhanteras
- In mid-April
- On Bhai Dooj
Answer: The day after Diwali. Bestu Varas falls the day after Diwali and also starts the new financial year for many traders, who worship their fresh account books (chopda pujan) on Diwali night.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a Diwali quiz with answers?
Right here. Below the quiz, the answer key lists all 15 Diwali questions with the correct option and a short explanation of each, from the meaning of Deepavali to the festival's UNESCO listing.
How many questions are in this Diwali quiz?
There are 15 multiple-choice questions with four options each. They start with easy questions about the legends and five days, then move to harder ones on regional and global traditions.
Can I play the Diwali quiz online for free without signing up?
Yes. The quiz is free, has no login, and shows your score instantly. You can share your result with family and friends straight from the results screen.
Is this Deepavali quiz suitable for school students?
Yes. The questions are written for teens and adults, and most are suitable for middle and high school students. The explanations make it useful for a Diwali assembly or class activity.