A Diwali bumper list of puzzling questions & answers
A special editor’s note: Usually, we feature three questions from our quiz master Shantanu Sharma, but for the long festival weekend, we upped the ante with eight questions—and a special prize: A Rs 1500 Amazon gift card—so you can treat yourself for being a super-smart quiz nerd.
The answers: to last week’s bumper quiz are at the bottom—as is the winner. As always, when there are multiple correct answers, we decide the winner using a lucky draw.
About Shantanu: He is a researcher-writer, and has a side hustle as a professional quiz guru. He’d love to hear from you—so send your feedback/suggestions or just say ‘hi’ over at sharmashantanu312@gmail.com or @shantorasbox on Twitter.
How this works: Every correct answer is worth 10 points. If a question has multiple parts, each is worth 5 points.
One: The throne with the idol of the city’s presiding deity is paraded in a grand annual procession. Who are the proud bearers of this throne and what is the name of this celebration that dates back over four centuries? (5+5)
Answer: Elephants and Mysuru Dasara
The tradition of using elephants in Dasara dates back to the Vijayanagara Empire in South India. After the empire declined, the Wadiyars of Mysore adopted this practice, and it has thrived for more than 400 years. Decorated with lavish adornments, including the Golden Howdah, the lead elephant proudly carries the presiding deity, Goddess Chamundeshwari, in a grand procession that enchants millions of spectators. Each year, 10 to 14 elephants participate in the celebrations. This year, the elephants were led by tusker Abhimanyu, who carried the 750kg Golden Howdah during the Jamboo Savari.
Two: Which occasion brings together 17 uniquely crafted tribal ‘dorms’—and is now celebrating its 25th anniversary? Hint: Think avian.
Answer: Hornbill Festival, Nagaland
Nagaland's famed Hornbill Festival returns for its 25th edition from December 1 to 10, 2024, at Kisama Heritage Village. Known as the "Festival of Festivals," this 10-day event highlights the vibrant cultural heritage. What you see in the image above is a Naga Morung, a traditional replica of the youth dormitory. Each morung is uniquely crafted to represent the distinct cultural practices and lifestyles of each tribe. Check out this Outlook Traveller guide all before you pack your bags for the 25th edition.
Three: Connect the following elements to work out an upcoming celebration.
Answer: Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)—celebrated each year on November 1 and 2—honours the spirits of loved ones and invites their return to the living world. Deeply rooted in Mexican and Central American traditions, this holiday also resonates widely among Mexican Americans in the US. The first image is the Mexican coat of arms. Central to this celebration are iconic symbols like La Catrina, created by artist José Guadalupe Posada in 1910. Originally a satirical woodcut, Catrina offered a playful critique of Mexican society and has since become a beloved festival representation. Similarly, Frida Kahlo’s art, exploring themes of identity, mortality, and spirit, is now seen as symbolic of Día de los Muertos.
Four: Which campaign started by a Mumbai-based organisation nearly twenty years ago has turned into a tradition due to clever marketing? Hint: It’s an excellent excuse to dress up.
Answer: Nine colours of Navratri
In 2003, Maharashtra Times' creative marketing team under the leadership of then-editor Bharatkumar Raut developed a strategy to attract more women readers during Navratri. They introduced a compelling narrative for wearing nine specific colours throughout the festival, each linked to an avatar of Goddess Durga. It gained immense popularity, igniting enthusiasm throughout Maharashtra and spreading to cities like New Delhi. For instance, orange represents Goddess Shailputri, white for Goddess Brahmacharini, adding authenticity to this "tradition."
Five: Identify this high-calorie delicacy—the signature offering that shares its name with the seasonal festival.
Answer: Mooncake or Moon Festival
The Moon Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, marks the 15th day of the eighth lunar month—falling on September 17 this year. It became an official holiday in China during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), with some sources tracing its earliest mention to the ‘Book of Rites’. Celebrated across East and Southeast Asia, families gather to enjoy the autumn harvest, light lanterns and admire the fullest moon of the year. This festival’s iconic treat is the mooncake, with classic Cantonese varieties featuring lotus seed paste, salted egg yolk, and lard—often packing up to 1,000 calories in each palm-sized piece. Other popular flavours include nuts, red beans, and custard.
Six: This is a route map of a road trip through a European country of a group of friends. Which festival did they participate in on their journey, giving a boost to tourism in the region?
Answer: La Tomatina in Buñol or Tomato fight festival
Each year, thousands of participants from around the globe gather for the "World's Biggest Food Fight," where over 100 metric tons of overripe tomatoes are tossed in the streets on the last Wednesday of August in Buñol, Spain. Since 2013, ticketing has been implemented to limit attendance to 20,000 participants. Set in locations like Barcelona, Seville, and the Costa Brava, ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011)marked the first major Indian production filmed extensively in Spain. In 2012, 60,444 Indians visited Spain—almost double the number from 2011.
Seven: With the quiz's theme in mind, what is the connection between these '80s classics?
a) A Spielberg masterpiece!
b) Don’t tell me you prefer the Jackie Chan version over the OG!
Answer: Halloween
Celebrated annually on October 31st, Halloween's roots trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Steven Spielberg's ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982) perfectly captures Halloween’s holiday spirit. The celebration serves as a backdrop for a heartwarming adventure, showcasing the joy and nostalgia of childhood as Elliot and his alien friend bond over trick-or-treating. The 1984 classic ‘The Karate Kid’ celebrates Halloween with gusto with many references that are often missed. If you want more, here’s Variety’s list of 21 Best Halloween Movies.
Eight: Take a moment to appreciate the artistic creativity and let me know what event would have been the occasion if you were here.
Answer: Durga Puja Pandal
Every year, nearly three crore people flock to Kolkata's pandals during Durga Puja. This year, the evolution of public art during the festival is drawing significant attention, rivalling major global art exhibitions. The pandal in question is a design replica of the Green Line under-river metro, complete with its characteristic movement, air conditioning, and typical announcements. It is celebrating Kolkata Metro Rail's 40th anniversary. Watch the full video of the metro pandal. You can check more such creative pandals from this year’s Puja here.
And the super quizzer is…
Bharat. Congratulations on winning the bumper quiz!
How we picked the winner: We continue our new system which involves a lucky draw among those with the most correct answers. You can see the lucky draw below:
