Diwali celebrations quiz: How well do you know the festival of lights?

Pakistan's minority Hindu community decorate with earthen oil lamps as they celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Lahore (AFP PHOTO/ Arif ALI )

The festival of Diwali is being celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains this Autumn.

Marked with feasts and firework displays, houses will also be decorated with candles and colourful lights as people share gifts and recite prayers, with some of the biggest UK events taking place in London and Leicester.

Diwali, which is one of the most significant festivals in Indian culture, coincides with Hindu New Year and is seen as a metaphor for self-improvement and as representing new beginnings. It involves a strong belief in giving to people in need, and is also traditionally a time for new clothes to be worn.

Those celebrating the festival also light traditional earthen diyas (candles) and decorate their houses with colourful rangoli artworks - patterns created on the floor using coloured rice or powder.

Indian sweets in a variety of colours and flavours are eaten during the celebrations, along with a host of savoury dishes.

We’ve put together a quiz based around the traditions and history of Diwali. Let us know how you did in the comments.

While each faith has its own reason to celebrate the festival, one of the most popular stories told is the legend of Lord Rama and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom in northern India from exile after defeating the demon king Ravanna in the 15th century BC.