50 Fun Facts About Diwali

What is Diwali commonly known as?

Diwali is widely known as the Festival of Lights. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning a row of lights (diyas).

Which small oil lamps are traditionally lit during Diwali celebrations?

Diyas are small clay oil lamps traditionally lit during Diwali. They symbolize the victory of light over darkness and are placed around homes, temples, and public spaces.

Which Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity is primarily worshipped during Diwali?

Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth, fortune, and prosperity, is the primary deity worshipped during Diwali. Devotees clean their homes and light diyas to welcome her blessings.

How many days does the Diwali festival traditionally span?

Diwali is traditionally a five-day festival. The celebrations begin with Dhanteras and end with Bhai Dooj, with the main Diwali day falling on the third day.

Which colorful floor art patterns are traditionally created during Diwali?

Rangoli are decorative patterns made on floors using colored powders, rice, flower petals, and sand. They are created at the entrance of homes during Diwali to welcome guests and deities.

Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to which city after 14 years of exile?

According to the Ramayana, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana to their kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the defeat of the demon king Ravana.

What type of sweets are commonly exchanged during Diwali?

Mithai (Indian sweets) are an essential part of Diwali celebrations. Families prepare and exchange boxes of sweets like ladoo, barfi, gulab jamun, and kaju katli with friends, family, and neighbors.

In which month does Diwali typically fall according to the Gregorian calendar?

Diwali typically falls in October or November. The exact date changes each year because it is determined by the Hindu lunisolar calendar, occurring on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the month of Kartik.

What do people traditionally wear during Diwali celebrations?

Wearing new clothes during Diwali is a widespread tradition. It symbolizes a fresh start and prosperity. Many families shop for new outfits, often choosing traditional attire like sarees, kurtas, and lehengas.

Which popular card game is traditionally played during Diwali nights?

Teen Patti (meaning three cards) is traditionally played during Diwali. The custom is linked to the belief that Goddess Parvati played dice with Lord Shiva on Diwali night, and whoever gambles on this night will prosper.

What is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival called?

Dhanteras (also called Dhantrayodashi) is the first day of the Diwali festival. 'Dhan' means wealth, and this day is considered auspicious for buying gold, silver, and new utensils.

Which demon king was defeated by Lord Rama, an event celebrated during Diwali?

Lord Rama defeated the ten-headed demon king Ravana of Lanka to rescue his wife Sita. His victorious return to Ayodhya is one of the key mythological events celebrated during Diwali.

What sweet, ball-shaped Indian confection made from flour, sugar, and ghee is a Diwali staple?

Ladoo (or laddoo) are round sweet balls and one of the most popular Diwali treats. They come in many varieties including besan ladoo, motichoor ladoo, and boondi ladoo, made with ghee, sugar, and various flours or nuts.

What does the word 'Deepavali' literally translate to?

Deepavali comes from the Sanskrit words 'deepa' (lamp/light) and 'avali' (row/series), literally meaning 'a row of lights.' This refers to the rows of clay lamps lit during the celebration.

Diwali is a national holiday in India and also in which Southeast Asian country?

Diwali is a national holiday in Malaysia, where it is known as Hari Deepavali. Malaysia has a significant Indian diaspora, and the festival is celebrated with open houses, oil lamp lighting, and cultural performances.

What Hindu ritual of worship is performed in front of a deity during Diwali?

Puja is the Hindu prayer ritual performed during Diwali. Lakshmi Puja, performed on the main Diwali night, involves offering prayers, flowers, sweets, and lighting lamps to invite the goddess into homes.

Which milk-based sweet made from condensed milk is commonly prepared for Diwali?

Barfi (or burfi) is a dense milk-based sweet popular during Diwali. Made by cooking down milk or khoya with sugar, it comes in many flavors including kaju (cashew), pista (pistachio), and coconut.

The fifth and final day of Diwali, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, is called what?

Bhai Dooj (also known as Bhai Tika or Bhau Beej) is the fifth and final day of Diwali. Sisters perform a tilak ceremony for their brothers, praying for their long life, similar to the Raksha Bandhan festival.

What material are traditional Diwali diyas usually made from?

Traditional Diwali diyas are made from clay (terracotta). They are shaped by hand or on a potter's wheel, dried in the sun, and filled with mustard oil or ghee with a cotton wick.

For Jains, Diwali marks the spiritual awakening (moksha) of which important figure?

For Jains, Diwali commemorates the attainment of moksha (liberation) by Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara, around 527 BCE at Pavapuri. Jains celebrate this as Mahavira Nirvana Divas.

Which Sikh Guru's release from imprisonment is celebrated during Diwali?

Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas (Day of Liberation), marking the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, from Gwalior Fort prison along with 52 other kings during Mughal Emperor Jahangir's rule in 1619.

Which day of Diwali is also known as 'Choti Diwali' or Small Diwali?

Naraka Chaturdashi, the second day of Diwali, is also called Choti Diwali (Small Diwali). It celebrates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura and is marked by early morning oil baths and lighting of diyas.

Which god is associated with Govardhan Puja, the fourth day of Diwali?

Govardhan Puja celebrates Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to protect the villagers of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by the god Indra. Devotees build small hills of cow dung or food to represent the mountain.

What deep-fried, syrup-soaked sweet shaped like a pretzel or spiral is popular during Diwali?

Jalebi are deep-fried batter spirals soaked in saffron-infused sugar syrup. Crispy on the outside and juicy inside, they are a beloved Diwali treat often eaten warm and are popular across South Asia.

In many Indian businesses, Diwali marks the beginning of a new what?

For many Indian businesses, especially in Gujarat and parts of North India, Diwali marks the beginning of the new financial year. New account books (chopda) are opened with prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesha in a ritual called Chopda Pujan.

Which elephant-headed Hindu god is worshipped alongside Lakshmi during Diwali Puja?

Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, is worshipped alongside Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali Puja. Together they represent the blessings of wisdom and wealth. Ganesha is always invoked first in Hindu rituals.

What is the name of the demon killed by Lord Krishna on the day before Diwali?

Narakasura (also called Naraka) was a powerful demon king who had captured 16,000 women and terrorized the gods. Lord Krishna defeated and killed him, and the day is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, the second day of Diwali.

In which country is Diwali known as 'Tihar' and celebrated over five days with a day dedicated to dogs?

In Nepal, Diwali is known as Tihar (or Swanti in Newar language). The five-day festival includes Kukur Tihar, a day dedicated to honoring dogs with garlands, tika, and treats, recognizing dogs as messengers of Yama, the god of death.

Which precious metal is traditionally purchased on Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali?

Gold is the most auspicious purchase on Dhanteras. The day is considered the most favorable for buying gold, silver, and other valuables. Jewelry stores across India see their highest sales on Dhanteras, with billions of dollars in gold sold.

What round, deep-fried sweet soaked in sugar syrup resembles small donuts and is served at Diwali?

Gulab Jamun are deep-fried balls made from khoya (reduced milk solids) and soaked in cardamom and rose-flavored sugar syrup. Their name comes from 'gulab' (rose water) and 'jamun' (a berry they resemble in size).

In which Hindu month does Diwali fall according to the traditional calendar?

Diwali falls on the new moon day (Amavasya) in the Hindu month of Kartik (also spelled Kartika). This month roughly corresponds to October-November in the Gregorian calendar.

What is the Sikh name for Diwali that translates to 'Day of Liberation'?

Bandi Chhor Divas means 'Day of Liberation' in Punjabi. Sikhs celebrate it to mark Guru Hargobind's release from imprisonment at Gwalior Fort. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is illuminated spectacularly on this day.

Which diamond-shaped sweet made from cashew nuts is often called 'Indian chocolate'?

Kaju Katli (cashew fudge) is a diamond-shaped sweet made from ground cashews, sugar, and sometimes silver leaf (vark). It is the most gifted Diwali sweet in India and is sometimes referred to as Indian chocolate for its smooth, rich texture.

What is the ritual of opening new account books during Diwali called in Gujarat?

Chopda Pujan is the Gujarati tradition of worshipping new account books during Diwali. Businessmen close their old books, purchase new ones, and perform puja with offerings to Lakshmi and Ganesha before starting the new financial year.

On the Bombay Stock Exchange, a special one-hour trading session held on Diwali is called what?

Muhurat Trading is a special one-hour trading session held on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Diwali evening. Considered highly auspicious, it marks the start of the new Samvat (Hindu financial year). The tradition has been observed since 1957.

In Bengal, which fierce form of the goddess is worshipped during Diwali instead of Lakshmi?

In West Bengal, Diwali coincides with Kali Puja. Bengalis worship Goddess Kali, the fierce destroyer of evil, rather than Lakshmi. The celebration features elaborate Kali idols, late-night rituals, and spectacular fireworks displays.

What thin edible metallic foil is used to decorate Diwali sweets like kaju katli?

Vark (also spelled warq or varak) is an extremely thin sheet of pure silver used to decorate Indian sweets during Diwali. Each sheet is hammered to be thinner than paper and is completely edible, adding an elegant shimmer to sweets.

Which Diwali tradition involves drawing small footprints leading into the home?

Lakshmi Paduka (footprints of Lakshmi) are small footprint designs drawn with rice paste or vermilion leading from the entrance into the home. They symbolize the goddess walking into the house to bless it with wealth and prosperity.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Diwali is a public holiday. What percentage of the population is of Indian descent?

About 35% of Trinidad and Tobago's population is of Indian descent, making it one of the largest Indian diaspora communities in the Caribbean. Diwali has been a public holiday there since 1966, and the celebration includes a national Diwali Nagar festival.

What type of decorative hanging lanterns, popular in Maharashtra during Diwali, are called?

Akash Kandil (sky lanterns) are colorful paper or cloth lanterns hung outside homes and buildings during Diwali in Maharashtra. Traditionally made from bamboo and colored paper, they symbolize the triumph of light and are a distinctive part of Maharashtrian Diwali celebrations.

Which ancient Indian text contains one of the earliest references to the Diwali festival?

The Padma Purana, one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas, contains early references to Deepavali. It describes the celebration marking Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya. The Skanda Purana also contains references to the festival of lights.

Which Mughal emperor is recorded to have participated in Diwali celebrations at his court?

Emperor Akbar (1542-1605) was known for his inclusive religious policies and actively participated in Diwali celebrations. Historical accounts describe elaborate Diwali festivities at his court with lamp-lighting and gift exchanges.

In the Ramayana, how many years did Lord Rama spend in exile before returning to Ayodhya?

Lord Rama spent 14 years in exile as decreed by his father King Dasharatha, who was bound by a promise to his wife Kaikeyi. Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, lived in forests and eventually defeated Ravana before returning to Ayodhya.

What do the words 'Shubh' and 'Labh' written on doorways during Diwali mean?

Shubh means auspicious/good fortune and Labh means profit/gain. These words are written on either side of doorways and account books during Diwali, invoking blessings for prosperity in the coming year. They are associated with Ganesha's two sons.

Leicester in England hosts the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Approximately how many people attend?

Leicester's Diwali celebrations on the Golden Mile (Belgrave Road) attract approximately 35,000 people annually, making it the largest Diwali celebration outside the Indian subcontinent. The event features a spectacular light switch-on ceremony, cultural performances, and fireworks.

Which type of Diwali firework, named after a flower, spins rapidly on the ground while emitting sparks?

Chakri, also called ground chakkar or spinning wheel, is a popular Diwali firework that spins rapidly on the ground creating a circle of sparks and colorful flames. Its name references the spinning wheel shape it creates. The word 'chakri' derives from 'chakra' meaning wheel.

In which year did the White House first officially celebrate Diwali?

The White House first officially celebrated Diwali in 2003 under President George W. Bush, when a diya was lit in the Oval Office. Since then, Diwali celebrations at the White House have grown in scale, with President Obama hosting the first large public celebration in 2009.

What is the name of the traditional Diwali practice of cleaning and decorating the entire home before the festival?

Swachchhata (cleanliness) is the deep-cleaning practice before Diwali. Families thoroughly clean and whitewash their homes, believing that Goddess Lakshmi visits only clean and well-lit houses. This spring-cleaning tradition also symbolizes removing negativity and welcoming fresh beginnings.

Which Indian state celebrates Diwali as the harvest festival of Annakut, building mountains of food?

In Gujarat, the day after Diwali is celebrated as Annakut (mountain of food), also coinciding with Gujarati New Year. Temples prepare enormous displays of food offerings, sometimes featuring hundreds of dishes, representing the Govardhan Hill legend of Lord Krishna.

What is the traditional reason given for gambling during Diwali according to Hindu mythology?

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati played dice with Lord Shiva on Diwali night and declared that whoever gambles on Diwali night will prosper throughout the year. This legend is the traditional justification for the widespread practice of card games and gambling during the festival.