Diwali Traditions
What small lamps are lit in homes during Diwali?
Diyas
Which elephant-headed god is associated with wisdom and removing obstacles?
Ganesha
In a widely celebrated Diwali story, which prince returns home with Sita and Lakshmana?
Rama
What is India’s national bird, famous for its colorful tail feathers?
The Indian peacock
Which crispy snack usually has a triangular pastry shell filled with potatoes and peas?
A samosa
What are the colorful designs made on floors using powders, flowers, or other materials called?
Rangoli
Which goddess associated with wealth and prosperity is worshipped during Diwali?
Lakshmi
To which city do they return, welcomed with lamps?
Ayodhya
In which Indian city would you find the Taj Mahal?
Agra
Which festival is famous for people tossing colored powders?
Holi
The name Deepavali refers to a row of what?
Lights or lamps
In the Ramayana, which devoted hero leaps across the ocean to find Sita?
Hanuman
How many years was Rama’s exile?
14 years
What is the wheel in the center of India’s flag called?
The Ashoka Chakra
Which game featuring kings, queens, rooks, and knights developed from the ancient Indian game chaturanga?
Chess
What festival, whose name includes the Hindi word for wealth, often begins the five-day Diwali celebrations?
Dhanteras
Rama is considered an avatar, or earthly incarnation, of which Hindu god?
Vishnu
Which king of Lanka does Rama defeat before returning home?
Ravana
What is the currency of India?
The Indian rupee
Which sweet is made from fried dough balls soaked in syrup and has a name containing the word for rose?
Gulab jamun
What sibling festival near the end of the Diwali celebrations honors the bond between brothers and sisters?
Bhai Dooj
Which goddess is worshipped during Kali Puja, celebrated around Diwali especially in West Bengal?
Kali
Which brother places Rama’s sandals on the throne and rules on his behalf during his exile?
Bharata
How many spokes does the Ashoka Chakra on India’s flag have?
24
Which Indian festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters with a thread tied around the wrist?
Raksha Bandhan