QUIZ ON DIWALI

Courtesy:Sri.V.Subrahmanyam

QUIZ ON DIWALI

Luckily the Supreme Court of India has not imposed any restriction on Quiz during Diwali. So let us have some fun….

Note: This quiz is not a test on your IQ but more of 'sharing some rare / useful information', so, for a change,  the answers are also mentioned below each Quiz question.

The first question has to be necessarily  on crackers. Let us get going.

1.Sivakasi, since 1940s, has become the 'fireworks capital' of India. Which city was the first to start manufacture of crackers in India?

Ans: Kolkata. It was by one Mr. Dasgupta in 1892. The Bengal light (flower pot), which is still popular, was the first firework manufactured followed by coloured matchsticks. 

2.Bursting of crackers has been popular in India since Vedic times. The Rig veda calls it Agni upasana. The Sanskrit sloka Ulka danam refers to the compulsory bursting of crackers during Diwali. Who was the composer of this sloka?

Ans: Ved Vyas.

3.Diwali is also known by various names such as Deepavali, Dipalika, Deepa Oli, Deepamala etc. By what name was it known in ancient Kashmir?

Ans: Sukasuptika.

4. Both the incidents associated with Diwali, (a) return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and (b) killing of Narakasura are not accurately documented as to give us the exact date / year of the start of festival of Diwali. But according to a certain text 15th October 527 BCE is reckoned as the oldest  instance of lighting of lamps (diyas) on the Diwali day. Name the book.

Ans: Tilyapannatti written by the Jain monk Yativrsabha.

5.How is the place Pawapuri, near Nalanda, Bihar associated with the festival of lights?

Ans: Mahavira, the last of the twenty-four Tirthankara attained Nirvana or moksha (liberation) at Pawapuri. Jains celebrate Diwali to commemorate this event.

6.It is popularly believed that Lord Krishna killed Narakasura. But in the battle between the two, it was Narakasura who held the upper hand, severely wounding Krishna and making him unconscious. It was actually Narakasura's mother who killed him. True or false?

Ans. True. Naraka was actually killed by Satyabhama, wife and charioteer of Lord Krishna. She is considered to be a reincarnation of Bhoomadevi, mother of Naraka.

7.Among the dashavatar  of Lord Vishnu which avatar is considered to be 

the father of Narakasura?.

Ans:  Varaha.

(There is another view that he was born to Hiranyaksha and Bhuma devi when the demon embraced the later - but that is disputed)

8.The Tamils refer  to the tradition of taking of oil bath on Diwali morning as 'Ganga snanam'? What is the reason behind it?

Ans : After the battle with Narakasura,  Lord Krishna cleansed His body splashed with blood, with an oil bath at the Ganges. Thus the tradition of 'Ganga snanam' began.It is believed that Ganga snanam on Diwali day cleanses all dirts (impurities) both inside and outside our body.

9.In Bengal, on the night of Diwali, Maa Kali is worshipped and the festival is known as Kali puja. Who are the two associates of the goddess who are also worshipped during Kali puja?

Ans: Dakini and Yogini.

10. Maa Kali in Bengal, Lakshmi (with Kuber) in western India, Govardhan and Vishwakarma in the north are worshipped during Diwali. On what day is Lord Yamraj worshipped during Diwali?

Ans: On the Yam trayodashi (dhanteras) day.  

11. Lord Yama again. Bhai Dooj or Bhai Phonta is celebrated two days after Diwali.  Lord Yama is believed to have started this practice when he visited his twin sister. What is the name of Yama's twin sister?

Ans: Yami.(Is it not Yamuna?-MN)

12. In certain parts of India, playing cards (gambling) is considered to be an important part of Diwali. What is the origin of this practice?

Ans: On this day the Ardhanari form of God, split into two and  Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva (a scene superbly sculpted at Kailash temple, Ellora). She won the game and decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year.

13. By what name Vatsyayana, the author of  Kama Sutra, refers to the festival of lights in his book?

Ans: It is called "Yaksha Ratri" or the Night of the Yakshas.

14. The Sikhs celebrate Diwali by calling it Bandi Chod Diwas - day of release from captivity  of one of their gurus. Name the Guru who was released this day.

Ans: The 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind, who was first arrested and later released by Mughal emperor Jahangir.

15.In which part of India Diwali is celebrated during the spring season (similar to Basanta Navratri)?

scroll down….

further….

Ans: That was a tricky one. There is no such thing as Basanta Diwali. Diwali comes just once a year.

Hope you enjoyed the Quiz.  Happy and a very prosperous Diwali to you and your family.