Diwali, the festival of lights, is all about diyas, rangoli, sweets and time with family. These Diwali riddles with answers are perfect for a school activity, a family quiz after the puja or a WhatsApp game with cousins. In 2026, Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday, 8 November.
Tap “Show answer” under each riddle to check your guess.
Contents
- Easy Diwali Riddles for Kids
- Funny Diwali Riddles
- Tricky Diwali Riddles for Adults
- Diwali Quiz Questions with Answers
- More Festival Riddles
- Frequently Asked Questions
Easy Diwali Riddles for Kids
1. I am a small clay cup with oil and a cotton wick. Light me up and I chase the darkness away. What am I?
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Answer: A diya (oil lamp).
2. I am made with coloured powder, flowers or rice at the door to welcome guests. What am I?
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Answer: A rangoli.
3. I sparkle in your hand like a tiny star, but you must hold me far away from your face. What am I?
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Answer: A phuljhadi (sparkler).
4. I am round, yellow and sweet, made of besan or boondi, and everyone eats me on Diwali. What am I?
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Answer: A laddoo.
5. I hang outside the house, made of paper or bamboo, with a light glowing inside. What am I?
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Answer: An akash kandil (lantern).
6. I go up with a whoosh, burst in the sky and paint it with colours. What am I?
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Answer: A rocket (firework).
7. Goddess of wealth, we pray to me on Diwali night. Who am I?
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Goddess Lakshmi.
8. I am the elephant-headed god who removes obstacles; people pray to me with Lakshmi on Diwali. Who am I?
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Lord Ganesha.
9. I am the king who came back to Ayodhya after 14 years, and the city lit lamps to welcome me. Who am I?
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Lord Rama.
10. I am new and shiny, people buy me on Dhanteras so that money comes home. What am I?
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Gold, silver or a new utensil.
11. I am orange and shaped like a pot; light me and I shoot a fountain of sparks. What am I?
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Answer: An anar (flower pot cracker).
12. I am a sweet with many twists, deep fried and dipped in sugar syrup. What am I?
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Answer: A jalebi.
13. I spin on the ground in circles and sparkle when lit. What am I?
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Answer: A chakri (ground spinner).
14. Everybody cleans me and decorates me before Diwali so Lakshmi will visit. What am I?
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Answer: Your home.
15. I am made of wax and a wick; I melt as I give light. What am I?
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Answer: A candle.
Funny Diwali Riddles
16. Why did the diya go to school?
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Answer: To become a little brighter.
17. What did one firecracker say to the other?
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Answer: “My pop is bigger than your pop!”
18. Why do laddoos never get lost?
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Answer: Because they always go round in circles.
19. Why did the laddoo break up with the jalebi?
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Answer: Too many twists in the relationship!
20. Why was the rocket so proud?
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Answer: It was going places – straight up!
21. What do you call a lamp that tells jokes?
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Answer: A light-hearted diya.
22. Why did the rangoli feel colourful?
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Answer: Because it had a lot of powder behind it.
23. What did the sparkler say at the party?
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Answer: “I’m so lit tonight!”
24. Why don’t sweets fight on Diwali?
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Answer: Because everyone wants to stay sweet.
25. What is the dog’s favourite Diwali sound?
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None – dogs hate crackers. Celebrate quietly for your pets!
Tricky Diwali Riddles for Adults
26. The more of me you light, the less of me remains. What am I?
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Answer: A candle (or the wick of a diya).
27. I have no voice but I can be very loud, I have no wings but I fly, and I live only for a second. What am I?
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Answer: A firecracker / rocket.
28. What has a flame but is not on fire, eyes but cannot see, and comes alive only on festival nights?
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Answer: A lantern with cut-out patterns.
29. On this day people buy gold, silver or a new steel pot, two days before Diwali. Which day is it?
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Dhanteras – buying metal is considered lucky.
30. A family lit 10 diyas. The wind blew out 3. How many diyas remained in the end?
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3 – the 7 burning ones burn down; the 3 blown out stay.
31. Rama returned after 14 years. If he left in 2026, in which year would he return?
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Answer: In 2040.
32. What can fill a whole house but takes up no space?
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Light.
33. I am sweet to eat but sweeter to give. On Diwali people exchange me in boxes. What am I?
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Mithai (sweets).
34. What festival starts with wealth, ends with brothers and has light in the middle?
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Diwali – from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj.
35. What gets bigger the more you share it on Diwali?
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Happiness (or light from one diya to another).
Diwali Quiz Questions with Answers
A short general knowledge quiz about Diwali for school assemblies and family quizzes.
36. Why is Diwali celebrated in north India?
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Answer: To celebrate Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over Ravana.
37. How many days does the Diwali festival usually last?
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Five days: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali), Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.
38. What is Diwali called in south India?
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Deepavali, meaning “a row of lamps”.
39. Which goddess is worshipped on the main day of Diwali?
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Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
40. What do Sikhs celebrate on Diwali?
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Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior Fort.
41. What do Jains remember on Diwali?
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Answer: The nirvana of Lord Mahavira.
42. Which goddess is worshipped on Diwali night in West Bengal?
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Goddess Kali (Kali Puja).
43. On which day of Diwali do sisters pray for their brothers?
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Answer: On Bhai Dooj, the last day.
More Festival Riddles
- दिवाली पहेलियाँ उत्तर सहित – Diwali riddles in Hindi
- हिंदी पहेलियाँ उत्तर सहित – our Hindi paheliyan collection
- 60+ Halloween Riddles – spooky riddles for kids and adults
- 100+ Christmas Riddles – for the next festival
- 1000+ Easy Riddles with Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The five-day festival runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
What is a good Diwali riddle for kids?
“I am a small clay cup with oil and a cotton wick. Light me up and I chase the darkness away. What am I?” Answer: a diya.
How can I use Diwali riddles in class?
Read a riddle aloud, let teams guess, or write riddles on paper diyas and hang them on the board. Children can also draw the answer as a rangoli.
Are there Diwali riddles in Hindi?
Yes, see our collection of Diwali paheliyan in Hindi with answers, linked above.