Tradition
While North Indians celebrate Diwali to mark Rama’s return to Ayodhya, South Indians and Gujaratis often celebrate the defeat of this demon king by Krishna or Satyabhama.
Narakasura
This crispy, saffron-hued sweet is traditionally served alongside spicy Fafda as a staple Sunday or festival breakfast in Gujarat.
Jalebi
Goddess Lakshmi is traditionally the consort of this deity.
Lord Vishnu
Diwali 2007 launched Deepika Padukone in one film and Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in another. Name both films.
Om Shanti Om
Saawariya
In 2009, this U.S. President became the first sitting president to personally participate in White House Diwali celebrations.
Barack Obama
For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of this 24th Tirthankara attaining Moksha (liberation) in 527 BCE at Pawapuri.
Mahavira
In a traditional Gujarati Vaishnav Thali or Chhappan Bhog, this iconic, dense sweet made of roasted chickpea flour and ghee is nicknamed "Lord Krishna’s favorite" historically prepared to look like blocks of gold.
Mohanthal
This younger brother of Ravana leaves Lanka and ultimately sides with Rama.
Vibhishana
A major Shah Rukh Khan Diwali release in 2011; Box Office India lists it among notable successful Diwali films.
Ra. One
Divali is a national public holiday in this Indian Ocean island nation, alongside Ougadi and Maha Shivaratree.
Mauritius
Diwali always falls on the new moon night, or Amavasya, of this specific Hindu lunar month, which usually spans October and November.
Kartika
In Haveli Sangeet and Vaishnav Pushtimarg temples, this specific term refers to the sanctified food offered to the deity, which translates literally to "the dynamic or moving breath."
Mahaprasad
This sister of Sita married Lakshmana.
Urmila
Shreya Ghoshal shares the vocals on Nagada Sang Dhol with this Gujarati folk singer.
Osman Mir
This English city is famous for hosting one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside India.
Leicester
Diwali’s main night traditionally falls during this Hindu lunar month.
Kartik / Kartika
Its flaky texture comes from repeatedly stretching cooked sugar into fine threads and combining them with a besan-ghee mixture.
Soan Papdi
Name all three of Lord Rama’s brothers
Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna
In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 1999 romantic drama Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, the grand celebratory song "Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje" is famously set during a vibrant Gujarati festival. However, a major, heartbreaking plot twist occurs immediately afterward on Diwali night, when Sameer (Salman Khan) is abruptly banished by Nandini's father for doing this specific action.
Holding Nandini's hand
Which nation has the highest number of Indian citizens working abroad?
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Put these five observances in the traditional Diwali sequence: Bhai Dooj, Naraka Chaturdashi, Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja, Diwali/Lakshmi Puja.
Dhanteras → Naraka Chaturdashi → Diwali/Lakshmi Puja → Govardhan Puja → Bhai Dooj
Though its name literally means "seven grains," this modern incarnation of a sacred Pushtimarg samagri is actually a rich, slow-cooked fudge made primarily from ghee, sugar, and chickpea flour.
Sata / Thoor
In Vaishnavite iconography and philosophy, this specific weapon of Vishnu does not just represent cosmic destruction, but is personified as the ultimate symbol of the cosmic mind (manas), pure awareness, and the soul’s liberation from ego.
Sudarshana Chakra
In Sanjay Leela Bhansali's tragic romance Devdas (2002), Aishwarya Rai's character Paro vows to keep a massive, monumental diya lit forever as a symbol of her love. For exactly how many years does she successfully keep it burning before it tragically goes out?
10 years
In 2023, this major U.S. city made Diwali an official public-school holiday.
New York City