Part 2 — Answer key

Compare your answers after you have finished Part 1.

1. In a basic Diwali quiz round, you ask which deity is the focus of the main evening worship in many North Indian homes. Which answer should be marked correct?
   Goddess Lakshmi
2. During Diwali, it is common for families to exchange boxes of sweets with friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
   True
3. While preparing Diwali trivia questions and answers, you want to test how the date of Diwali is set. In most Hindu traditions in India, Diwali falls on which lunar phase in the month of Kartika?
   New moon
4. In typical Diwali rituals, small lamps (diyas) are traditionally filled with honey rather than oil or ghee.
   False
5. A shopping mall is running a Diwali quiz for adults about auspicious purchases. Which day of the five-day Diwali period is most closely associated with buying new metal utensils and coins?
   Dhanteras
6. Diwali always falls on the same Gregorian calendar date every year, which makes it easy to plan annual office parties without checking a calendar.
   False
7. In a Diwali picture round, you show intricate colored patterns made from powder near house entrances. What is the primary traditional purpose of these rangoli designs?
   To welcome prosperity and the goddess Lakshmi into the home
8. You are writing Diwali quiz questions for a group in Kolkata. A friend says their family focuses on Kali Puja the same night many others celebrate Lakshmi Puja. Which deity is central to this eastern Indian observance?
   Kali
9. You are creating Diwali trivia questions about different stories behind each day. In many regions, which Diwali day commemorates Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura?
   Naraka Chaturdashi
10. A company wants an eco-friendly Diwali quiz question focused on reducing air pollution. Which proposed activity most directly cuts down smoke from traditional fireworks?
    Organize a community laser or light show instead of individual firecrackers
11. For many Jains, Diwali is observed as the anniversary of Mahavira's attainment of nirvana (liberation).
    True
12. Most Indian cities legally permit unrestricted use of any type of firework throughout the entire Diwali night.
    False
13. At the end of a five-day Diwali quiz, you ask about the day when sisters pray for their brothers' well-being and often give them sweets while applying a mark on the forehead. Which day is this?
    Bhai Dooj
14. You are designing Diwali quiz questions that highlight how the festival is known in different communities. Which of the following are regional names or directly linked observances of the Diwali period? Select all that apply.
    Deepavali in Tamil and other South Indian traditions; Bandi Chhor Divas in many Sikh communities; Tihar in Nepal
15. A teacher wants students to arrange the common five-day North Indian Diwali sequence from first to last. Put these observances in the usual order.
    Correct order: Dhanteras → Naraka Chaturdashi → Lakshmi Puja → Govardhan Puja or Annakut → Bhai Dooj
16. You hear your Gujarati colleague say that their family celebrates "Bestu Varas" around Diwali. In many Gujarati communities, what does this term refer to?
    The regional New Year that begins around Diwali
17. At a gurdwara, a Diwali quiz question asks about the Sikh observance that commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind from captivity along with many other prisoners. Which name should contestants choose?
    Bandi Chhor Divas
18. You are checking advanced Diwali quiz questions about regional emphasis on different Diwali stories. Which pairing correctly matches a region with a Diwali-related story that is especially highlighted there?
    Goa and parts of coastal Karnataka: Krishna's victory over Narakasura as a major Diwali theme
19. An advanced Diwali quiz for adults includes a question on Buddhist observances around this time. How do some Buddhist communities in India mark the Diwali period?
    They light rows of lamps at monasteries to honor the Buddha and his teachings
20. Kali Puja, which often coincides with Diwali, is especially prominent in parts of eastern India such as West Bengal and Odisha.
    True
21. In beginner Diwali quizzes, which item is described as a small clay or metal oil lamp used during the festival?
    Diya