Diwali Reading Comprehension

Motivate readers with this free printable Diwali reading passage for 3rd grade and up. Read and test reading comprehension with the online quiz or print and use offline.

What is Diwali?

Diwali is a popular holiday celebrated by Hindu people around the world. In India it is the biggest holiday of the year. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new year. Diwali usually falls between the middle of October and the middle of November. The actual day depends on when there is a new moon.

Diwali, sometimes called Deepavali, is known as the Festival of Lights. People light candles or small clay lamps called diyas to invite good luck from the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi and the God Ganesh, who represent good fortune, knowledge and wealth.

The day before Diwali, people clean and decorate their homes and offices. According to legend, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, blesses the homes that are shiny and clean.

On the night of Diwali, people light lamps and candles inside and outside their homes. They often have family prayers, called puja, followed by fireworks and a family feast.

It is a custom to wear new clothes for Diwali. In India it is a busy time for the stores. If they can, people give food and clothes to those in need.

Depending on where you live, Diwali can last up to 5 days, with different traditions happening on each one.

Source: worksheetsplus.com/Reading/WhatisDiwali.html What is Diwali?
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What is Diwali?
a city in India
a Hindu holiday
a lamp
a Hindu holiday When is Diwali?
January 1
mid to end September
mid October - mid November
mid October - mid November What is a diya?
a clay lamp
a Hindu god
a prayer
a clay lamp What is a puja?
a clay lamp
a Hindu god
a prayer
a prayer Why do people clean and decorate their houses for Diwali?
It's a law.
to scare away ghosts
to welcome blessings from Lakshmi
to welcome blessings from Lakshmi Which of these is NOT another name for Diwali?
New Year's Day
Deepavali
Festival of Lights
New Year's Day People do a lot of shopping for Diwali.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
True Which of these does NOT happen on the night of Diwali?
fireworks
prayers
housecleaning
housecleaning Which of these is NOT a Hindu god or goddess?
Puja
Lakshmi
Ganesh
Puja Lakshmi is a goddess representing
the fall harvest
good fortune
light
good fortune