The Origins
We celebrate this person's homecoming as Diwali.
Who is Ram?
This is the number of days Diwali is celebrated.
What is 5?
1st Dhan Teras
2nd Kali Chaudas
3rd Diwali
4th Bestu Baras/New Year
5th Bhai Beej
Shri Rama is a reincarnation of Shri Vishnu. What is Lakshmana the reincarnation of?
A. What is Vishnu's Gada (mace)?
B. What is Vishnu's Panchajanya Shankha (conch shell)?
C. What is Shesha Naga, the snake that sheltered Shri Vishnu?
D. What is the Sudarshana Chakra, Vishnu's discus?
C. What is Shesha Naga, the snake that sheltered Shri Vishnu?
The Sudarshana Chakra, Vishnu's discus and Vishnu's Panchajanya Shankha (conch shell) came to Earth as Shatrughna and Bharata, respectively.
Each year this group of friends and families get together to celebrate Diwali.
What is Roseville Swadhyay Parivar?
The only bad part about celebrating Diwali in the USA is:
(A) Cannot dress-up on Diwali day
(B) Cannot legally light fire crackers
(C) Cannot eat sweets
What is (B) cannot legally light fire crackers?
This used to be primary color of Rangoli, signifying peace, purity and tranquility.
What does white represent in Rangoli?
In Indian mythology, how many avathars or incarnations has Vishnu, one of Hinduism's holy trinity come to the world in?
(A) What is 10?
(B) What is 12?
(C) What is 11?
(D) What is 9?
(D) What is 9?
Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Tortoise), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (Half-man, Half-lion), Vamana (Dwarf), Parashurama (a vengeful Brahmin), Rama of the Ramayana, Krishna of the Bhagwat Gita and Buddha.
I am NOT one of the Chaturdash (14) Ratnas (gems or treasures) that emerged out of Samudramanthan (the churning of the ocean performed by Asuras (demons) and Devas (gods).
A. What is Chandra (Moon)?
B. What is Laxmi, (Goddess of Wealth)?
C. What is Sudarshana Chakra (Spinning, disk-like weapon)?
D. What is Airavat , (Multi-tusked elephant for Lord Indra)?
E. Kamadhenu, (Cow which provides desired objects)
C. What is Sudarshana Chakra (Spinning, disk-like weapon)?
Home are decorated with beautiful and colorful designs of these in the front yard during Diwali.
What is Rangoli?
Despite variations, Diwali fundamentally represents the victory of light, truth and knowledge over these 3 opposite characteristics.
What are Darkness, Lies and Ignorance?
The origins of Deepavali are related to:
(A) Ram
(B) Krishna
(C) Pandavas
(D) Virkramaditya
(E) All of the above
(F) None of the above
What is (E) All of the above?
On the 3rd day, the Lakshmi Puja is performed bathing the idols in Panchamitra which is made up of these five ingredients.
What is sugar, milk, honey, yogurt, and ghee?
I helped Krishna kill Narkaasur on Narak Chaturdashi (Kali Chaudas).
Who is Satyabhama?
Friends and Family greet each other with this traditional (Gujarati/Hindi) greeting on Hindu New Year's day.
What is 'Saal Mubarak' or 'Nutan Varsh Abhinandan'?
Two intersecting triangles in Rangoli design represent this deity.
Who is Saraswati?
This oppressive king was defeated by Krishna on the day before Diwali.
Who is Narkaasur?
According to the Gujarati calendar this Vikram Samvat (VS) year starts from Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022.
What is VS 2079?
This line from the following Shaanti Mantra gets closest to explaining the essence of Deepavali:
(A) असतो मा साद गमय (From ignorance, lead me to truth)
(B) तमसो मा ज्योतिर् गमय (From darkness, lead me to light)
(C) मृत्योर मा अमृतम् गमय (From death, lead me to immortality)
What is (B) तमसो मा ज्योतिर् गमय?
(From darkness, lead me to light)
He brought the storms that forced Krishna and his villagers to seek refuge under Mount Govardhan, literally.
Who is Indra?
Originally, 14 diyas were lit in a row to represent this time period.
What is the 14 years of Rama's exile?
Vikramaditya was coronated as the emperor on the day after Diwali after his victory over:
(A) Alexander the Great (the guy from Greece)
(B) Mughal Empire (people from Central Asia)
(C) Sakas (people from present day Iran, Persia)
Who are Sakas?
Sri Suktam addresses ____ (number) forms of Lakshmi.
What is Ashta (8) Lakshmi?
This is the one state in India where Diwali is not a major festival.
What is Kerala?
Gambling, a very popular tradition in northern India, can be traced back to these two deities playing dice. Famous sculptures of this can be seen at the Ellora caves.
Who are Shiva and Parvati?
Bhai Duj, is also known as Yamadwitheya, celebrating this brother visiting his sister for dinner.
Who is Yama