Diwali, the festival of lights, is a major Hindu festival that symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm in India and among Hindus worldwide. As part of the festivities, it is common to share riddles and puzzles with family and friends. Here are 73 riddles about Diwali to get your mind thinking.
General Diwali Riddles
Let’s start with some general riddles about Diwali:
Q: Why is the festival of Diwali celebrated?
A: To mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
Q: Which Hindu scripture tells the story of Lord Rama?
A: The Ramayana.
Q: What are the five days of Diwali known as?
A: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdasi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj.
Q: On which day does Diwali fall?
A: In the month of Kartik, on the 15th day of the dark fortnight, the Amavasya.
Q: What gets lit in every house during Diwali?
A: Diyas (small earthen lamps).
Q: Which Lord do devotees pray to on Naraka Chaturdasi?
A: Lord Krishna.
Q: Which demon did Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama slay?
A: Narakasura.
Q: What do people decorate their homes with during Diwali?
A: Rangolis, flowers, diyas.
Q: What do people say to wish each other during Diwali?
A: “Shubh Dipawali” which means “Have an auspicious Diwali!”
Riddles on Diwali Traditions
Next, let’s look at some riddles around common Diwali traditions:
Q: Which metal coins are traditionally bought on Dhanteras?
A: Gold and silver.
Q: What sweet Indian treat might be gifted on Diwali?
A: Mithai (Indian sweets).
Q: What gets lit outside homes on Diwali night?
A: Firecrackers.
Q: Which clay lamps get lit on Diwali?
A: Diyas.
Q: What traditional dress do people like to wear on Diwali?
A: New clothes, often the festive Kurta-Pyjama for men or Saree for women.
Q: What gets thrown in the night sky during Choti Diwali?
A: Fireworks.
Q: Which ritual bathroom cleaning paste gets applied before Diwali?
A: Gobar.
Q: Which fruit is traditionally eaten first on Diwali morning?
A: Bananas.
Q: Which treat is left outside the home for Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali night?
A: Jalebi.
Q: What do siblings often receive from each other on Bhai Dooj?
A: Gifts and sweets.
Riddles on Diwali Story
How well do you know the legendary story behind Diwali? Test yourself with these riddles:
Q: How many years was Lord Rama in exile?
A: 14 years.
Q: What was the demon king of Lanka named who kidnapped Sita?
A: Ravana.
Q: Who was Lord Rama’s wife?
A: Sita.
Q: Which monkey god helped Rama fight Ravana?
A: Hanuman.
Q: How did Rama, Sita and Lakshmana cross the ocean?
A: By building a bridge with floating stones.
Q: What was Sita’s test of fire called?
A: Agni Pariksha.
Q: Which brother of Lord Rama reigned in his absence?
A: Bharata.
Q: Which deity’s 10 heads did Rama aim at to start the war with Ravana?
A: Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna.
Q: How many days did the war with Ravana last?
A: 18 days.
Q: What flying vehicle did Ravana take Sita away in when he kidnapped her?
A: Pushpaka Vimaana.
Riddles on Diwali Significance
Let’s move on to riddles about why Diwali is such an important festival:
Q: What does the word Diwali literally mean?
A: Row or line of lamps.
Q: Which element of nature does Diwali represent the victory of?
A: Light.
Q: Which emotion does Diwali represent the dispelling of?
A: Ignorance.
Q: What does the goddess Lakshmi represent on Diwali?
A: Wealth and prosperity.
Q: What do the diyas lit on Diwali represent?
A: Triumph over spiritual darkness.
Q: What is symbolized by the Diwali sweets distribution?
A: An auspicious and sweet year ahead.
Q: What is signified by the spring cleaning before Diwali?
A: Preparing for the new year with a fresh start.
Q: Why are prayers offered to the goddess of wealth?
A: For blessings of prosperity in the coming year.
Q: Which evil is signified by the effigy of Narakasura?
A: Ego and abuse of power.
Q: What does the sharing of gifts represent?
A: Strengthening relationships.
Riddles on Diwali Activities
Next up are riddles based on common Diwali activities:
Q: Which diyas are lit to invite the goddess of wealth?
A: Oil or ghee diyas.
Q: What design is traditionally drawn at the entrances of homes?
A: Rangolis.
Q: What gets prepared in homes using gram flour and sugar?
A: Gujia sweets.
Q: Which scented sticks might get lit on Diwali night?
A: Agarbattis or incense sticks.
Q: What crunchy treat might get prepared using rice and nuts?
A: Chivda snack mix.
Q: What dessert ball might families prepare with khoya?
A: Laddoos.
Q: What drink is commonly served during family gatherings on Diwali?
A: Masala chai.
Q: What oil might be gently applied on the forehead before prayers?
A: Til or sesame oil.
Q: Which colorful patterns get painted on the floor outside homes using rice paste?
A: Kolams.
Q: What treat made of gram flour might be enjoyed in North India?
A: Pakoras.
Riddles on Religious Rituals
How well do you know the religious rituals and legends around Diwali? Test yourself:
Q: Who wrote the Ramayana, which tells the story of Diwali?
A: Sage Valmiki.
Q: Which Hindu god has Diwali celebrations in their honor?
A: Lord Ganesha.
Q: Who is worshipped as the goddess of wealth and prosperity?
A: Goddess Lakshmi.
Q: Which Hindu god is thanked for helping Lord Rama?
A: Lord Hanuman.
Q: What gets said while lighting diyas to dispel darkness?
A: “Adarkar Diva Ujadu, Andhkara Vinash Jaay”
Meaning: As the diyas dispel darkness, evils and ignorance shall leave.
Q: Which Hindu scripture tells the story behind Naraka Chaturdashi?
A: Bhagavata Purana.
Q: Which celestial vehicle did Lord Krishna ride to defeat Narakasura?
A: His eagle Garuda.
Q: Which flower is strongly associated with Diwali celebrations?
A: Lotus.
Q: Which texts are recited on Diwali?
A: The Ramayana and Shri Suktam hymns dedicated to Lakshmi.
Q: Which oil lamp is lit in temples on Diwali?
A: The eternal Akhand Jyot.
Riddles on Diwali Dates
Let’s round up with some riddles on when Diwali falls:
Q: On which new moon, amavasya, does Diwali fall?
A: Kartik Amavasya.
Q: In which Hindu calendar month does Diwali fall?
A: Kartik month.
Q: Diwali falls in which season in India?
A: Autumn season.
Q: Diwali comes how many days after Dhanteras?
A: Two days after Dhanteras.
Q: When does Diwali fall in relation to Navratri?
A: About 20 days after Navratri.
Q: How many days after Diwali is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
A: Two days after Diwali.
Q: In which half of the lunar month does Diwali fall?
A: The dark fortnight, Krishna Paksha.
Q: Which Hindu calendar is used to determine Diwali’s date?
A: The Vikram Samvat calendar.
Q: What is the period of the Diwali festival celebrations?
A: A 5-6 day period.
Q: Does Diwali fall on the same Gregorian date each year?
A: No, it moves around between mid-October to mid-November.
Conclusion
There you have it – 73 riddles ranging from easy to moderate difficulty all about Diwali! This collection covers riddles on Diwali mythology, traditions, rituals, significance, activities and more. Riddles are not just fun brain teasers, but also a great way for kids and adults alike to enhance their knowledge about one of the most important festivals celebrated by millions of Hindus worldwide. So share these riddles at your Diwali parties and gatherings, involve your kids and family in solving them together or test your own knowledge on the Festival of Lights.
