Course outline
Module 1
Module 1: Origins and History of Diwali
Origins and History of Diwali
Knowledge check
Q1. Diwali, the festival of lights, is primarily celebrated by followers of which religions?
- A. Christianity and Judaism
- B. Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism ✓
- C. Islam and Zoroastrianism
- D. Buddhism and Shinto
Why: Diwali is most widely celebrated by Hindus, and it is also significant to Sikhs and Jains. Each community associates the festival with different historical events and teachings.
Q2. What does the name 'Diwali' come from?
- A. A Sanskrit word meaning 'harvest moon'
- B. A contraction of 'Deepavali,' meaning a row of lamps ✓
- C. A Persian word meaning 'celebration of the new year'
- D. An ancient word for 'river of light'
Why: The name Diwali derives from the Sanskrit word 'Deepavali,' which combines 'deepa' (lamp) and 'avali' (row or series), referring to the rows of oil lamps lit during the festival.
Q3. Which Hindu deity is traditionally honored during Diwali, especially for prosperity and wealth?
- A. Lord Shiva
- B. Goddess Lakshmi ✓
- C. Lord Ganesha
- D. Goddess Durga
Why: Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, is worshipped during Diwali, and many families perform special prayers to invite her blessings into their homes.
Q4. For Sikhs, Diwali is closely associated with which historical event?
- A. The founding of the Khalsa in 1699
- B. The release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment in the Gwalior fort ✓
- C. The compilation of the Adi Granth in 1604
- D. The birth of Guru Nanak in 1469
Why: Sikhs commemorate Bandi Chhor Divas, linked to the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from Mughal imprisonment at Gwalior, which coincided with Diwali and is celebrated with lights in gurdwaras.
Q5. Which popular Hindu epic story is commonly linked to the lighting of lamps during Diwali?
- A. The Bhagavad Gita, when Krishna speaks to Arjuna
- B. The Ramayana, when Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana ✓
- C. The Mahabharata, when the Pandavas win the game of dice
- D. The story of Prahlada and Narasimha
Why: According to the Ramayana, the people of Ayodhya lit rows of lamps to welcome Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshman home after their fourteen-year exile and victory over Ravana. This is one of the most widely told origin stories of Diwali.
Module 2
Module 2: Rituals and Preparations
Rituals and Preparations
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the main theme symbolized by the lighting of diyas during Diwali?
- A. The harvest of new crops
- B. The victory of light over darkness and good over evil
- C. The arrival of winter
- D. The start of a new school year
Q2. Which activity is traditionally done before Diwali to clean and refresh the home?
- A. Painting the outside of the house
- B. Thorough house cleaning, often called 'Safai'
- C. Planting new trees in the garden
- D. Building a new room
Q3. What are rangoli designs, often prepared during Diwali preparations?
- A. Sweets made from milk and sugar
- B. Colorful decorative patterns made on floors or doorways
- C. Traditional songs sung at night
- D. Clay statues of deities
Q4. Why do families often buy new clothes before Diwali?
- A. To donate to the poor only
- B. To celebrate the festival with fresh attire and a sense of renewal
- C. Because clothing shops require it
- D. To prepare for a school exam
Q5. Which item is commonly lit and placed at entrances and windows to welcome prosperity during Diwali?
- A. Candles made of wax only
- B. Electric lanterns with no flame
- C. Clay oil lamps called diyas
- D. Torches used for hiking
Module 3
Module 3: Lamps and the Symbolism of Light
Lamps and the Symbolism of Light
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the common name for the clay oil lamps traditionally lit during Diwali?
- A. Chirags ✓
- B. Mashals
- C. Lanterns
- D. Torches
Why: Diyas, also called chirags, are small clay oil lamps that families light in rows on windowsills, doorways, and courtyards during Diwali.
Q2. What does the light of the diya primarily symbolize in Diwali celebrations?
- A. Wealth in the form of gold
- B. The victory of light over darkness and good over evil
- C. The harvest season ending
- D. The start of the monsoon rains
Q3. Why are diyas typically made of clay rather than metal?
- A. Clay lamps burn brighter than metal ones
- B. Clay is traditional, inexpensive, and biodegradable, connecting the festival to earth and simplicity ✓
- C. Metal lamps are forbidden during Diwali
- D. Clay is the only material that can hold cotton wicks
Why: Clay diyas are inexpensive, natural, and return to the earth after use, reflecting humility and a link to the land, which is why they remain the traditional choice.
Q4. Which oil is most traditionally used to fuel diyas during Diwali?
- A. Mustard oil or sesame oil ✓
- B. Kerosene
- C. Olive oil
- D. Coconut milk
Why: Mustard and sesame oils have long been traditional fuels for diyas in Indian households, though many families today also use ghee or other oils.
Q5. Why are diyas lit in rows and placed at the entrances of homes?
- A. To mark the boundaries of the family's land
- B. To guide and welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and to ward off darkness and negativity ✓
- C. To signal neighbors that the festival has begun
- D. To keep insects away from the house
Why: Lighting diyas at doorways and in rows is believed to welcome Goddess Lakshmi into the home and to drive away darkness, ignorance, and misfortune.
Module 4
Module 4: Rangoli, Decorations and Home Sacred Spaces
Rangoli, Decorations and Home Sacred Spaces
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the traditional purpose of creating rangoli during Diwali?
- A. To mark the end of the harvest season
- B. To welcome guests and invite the goddess Lakshmi into the home ✓
- C. To honor the ancestors through written prayers
- D. To signal the start of the monsoon rains
Why: Rangoli designs are traditionally made at the entrance of homes to welcome visitors and to invite Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, to bless the household during Diwali.
Q2. Which materials are most commonly used to make rangoli designs?
- A. Clay, wood shavings, and paper
- B. Colored powders, rice flour, flower petals, and sand ✓
- C. Metal filings and glass beads
- D. Paint, chalk, and charcoal only
Why: Rangoli is traditionally made with colored powders, rice flour, flower petals, and sometimes coloured sand. These natural materials are easy to scatter by hand and are often symbolic, such as rice flour representing nourishment.
Q3. What is a diya, often seen during Diwali celebrations?
- A. A type of sweet eaten during the festival
- B. A small oil lamp used to light homes and sacred spaces ✓
- C. A traditional musical instrument played at dawn
- D. A woven cloth worn by the family
Why: A diya is a small clay oil lamp filled with oil and a cotton wick. Lighting rows of diyas symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, and they are placed around homes, doorways, and altars.
Q4. Why are homes typically cleaned and decorated before Diwali?
- A. Because the festival requires all furniture to be replaced
- B. To remove negativity and prepare a welcoming, auspicious space for the goddess Lakshmi ✓
- C. Because cleaning is forbidden during the festival days
- D. To hide the family's belongings from visiting guests
Why: Cleaning and decorating the home before Diwali is seen as a way to clear away negativity and dust, making the house pure and inviting for Goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to visit homes that are clean and well-lit.
Q5. What does a home altar, or puja space, typically include during Diwali?
- A. Only a television and a computer
- B. Images or idols of deities, flowers, diyas, and offerings such as fruit or sweets ✓
- C. Large stone sculptures brought from outside the home
- D. Empty boxes to store gifts received during the year
Why: A Diwali puja space is set up with images or idols of deities such as Lakshmi and Ganesha, along with flowers, lit diyas, and offerings like fruit, sweets, and coins, creating a sacred area for prayer and worship.
Module 5
Module 5: Food, Sweets and Festive Feasting
Food, Sweets and Festive Feasting
Knowledge check
Q1. Which sweet, made from milk solids simmered slowly with sugar and often flavored with cardamom and saffron, is a popular gift exchanged during Diwali?
- A. Gulab jamun
- B. Kaju katli ✓
- C. Jalebi
- D. Rasgulla
Why: Kaju katli is a diamond-shaped cashew-based fudge that is especially popular as a Diwali gift. Gulab jamun and jalebi are also common Diwali sweets, but kaju katli is most associated with gift-giving during the festival.
Q2. What is the main purpose of sharing sweets and food with neighbors and relatives during Diwali?
- A. To fulfill a religious fasting requirement
- B. To strengthen bonds of goodwill, generosity, and community ✓
- C. To pay off debts before the new year
- D. To avoid cooking at home for the entire week
Why: Exchanging food and sweets during Diwali is a gesture of goodwill and sharing that strengthens relationships between family, friends, and neighbors. It reflects the festival's values of generosity and togetherness.
Q3. Which of the following is a traditional savory snack commonly prepared and served during Diwali celebrations?
- A. Sushi
- B. Tacos
- C. Chakli ✓
- D. Pretzels
Why: Chakli is a crunchy, spiral-shaped savory snack made from rice and lentil flour, widely prepared in many Indian households during Diwali. The other options are foods from different cuisines and are not traditional Diwali fare.
Q4. What is the Indian sweet called that is made by deep-frying fermented batter into spirals and then soaking them in sugar syrup?
- A. Jalebi ✓
- B. Barfi
- C. Ladoo
- D. Halwa
Why: Jalebi is made by piping fermented batter into coils, frying them until crisp, and then soaking them in syrup. It is a festive favorite during Diwali and other celebrations, unlike barfi, ladoo, or halwa, which are made differently.
Q5. Why are homemade sweets often prepared in large quantities in the days leading up to Diwali?
- A. Because sweets must be eaten within a single day of preparation
- B. Because they are offered to guests, shared with others, and kept for the festive period ✓
- C. Because sugar prices are lowest during this season only
- D. Because the festival requires that no food be cooked on the day itself
Why: Families prepare sweets in bulk so there is plenty to offer visitors, share with neighbors, and enjoy throughout the festival days. This abundance reflects the spirit of hospitality central to Diwali.
Module 6
Module 6: Family, Community and Gift-Giving
Family, Community and Gift-Giving
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the main theme that Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates?
- A. The harvest of winter crops
- B. The triumph of light over darkness and good over evil ✓
- C. The birth of a famous river goddess
- D. The start of the spring planting season
Why: Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, which is why lamps (diyas) are lit across homes and communities.
Q2. Which family activity is most commonly associated with Diwali?
- A. Fasting for an entire week
- B. Cleaning and decorating the home to welcome prosperity ✓
- C. Closing all shops and staying indoors for a month
- D. Traveling to a distant mountain temple alone
Why: Families traditionally clean and decorate their homes before Diwali, as it is believed to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Q3. What is a common Diwali gift-giving custom?
- A. Giving only handwritten letters with no tokens
- B. Exchanging sweets, dry fruits, and gifts with family, friends, and neighbors ✓
- C. Giving away all personal belongings to strangers
- D. Sending gifts only to people who live in other countries
Why: Exchanging sweets and gifts is a widely practiced Diwali custom that strengthens bonds between family, friends, and neighbors.
Q4. Why do communities often hold shared celebrations during Diwali?
- A. To avoid spending time with family at home
- B. To strengthen community bonds and share joy across neighborhoods ✓
- C. Because the festival is only celebrated by one individual
- D. To compete with other communities over fireworks
Why: Community gatherings, public lamp lighting, and shared meals help strengthen social ties and a sense of belonging during Diwali.
Q5. What does the act of lighting diyas (oil lamps) symbolize during Diwali?
- A. The end of the harvest season
- B. Welcoming guests from distant lands
- C. Hope, positivity, and the dispelling of darkness from one's life ✓
- D. A reminder to conserve electricity
Why: Lighting diyas symbolizes hope, positivity, and the removal of ignorance and negativity, reflecting the festival's central theme of light overcoming darkness.
Module 7
Module 7: Diwali Around the World
Diwali Around the World
Knowledge check
Q1. Which Indian city is famous for its spectacular Diwali celebrations and the lighting of its ghats along the Ganges River?
- A. Mumbai
- B. Varanasi ✓
- C. Chennai
- D. Jaipur
Why: Varanasi is renowned for its Dev Deepawali celebration, held about two weeks after Diwali, when thousands of oil lamps are lit along the ghats of the Ganges River.
Q2. In Nepal, Diwali is celebrated as part of a five-day festival. What is the name of this festival?
- A. Tihar ✓
- B. Onam
- C. Holi
- D. Pongal
Why: Tihar, also called Swanti or Deepawali in Nepal, is a five-day festival honoring animals like crows and dogs, cows, and siblings, alongside the lighting of lamps.
Q3. Which Sikh festival is celebrated at the same time as Diwali and commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment?
- A. Vaisakhi
- B. Bandi Chhor Divas ✓
- C. Gurpurab
- D. Hola Mohalla
Why: Bandi Chhor Divas, meaning Day of Liberation, marks the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from the Gwalior Fort, and Sikhs light lamps at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during this time.
Q4. In Malaysia and Singapore, what is a popular Diwali tradition involving the decoration of homes and streets with bright lights and colorful displays?
- A. Burning effigies of demons
- B. Setting up open houses where people of all backgrounds are welcomed ✓
- C. Releasing lanterns into the sky
- D. Floating paper boats on rivers
Why: In Malaysia and Singapore, Deepavali open houses are common, where Hindu families invite friends and neighbors of all faiths to share food, sweets, and festive hospitality.
Q5. Which Caribbean country, with a large population of Indian descent, holds a national Diwali celebration that is a public holiday?
- A. Jamaica
- B. Trinidad and Tobago ✓
- C. Barbados
- D. Bahamas
Why: Trinidad and Tobago, where people of Indian descent make up a significant portion of the population, observes Diwali as a national public holiday, with lamps and festivities across the islands.