Diya Batti Race: Diwali Kitty Party Game Rules and Twists
Diya Batti Race is a one minute Diwali kitty party game where every lady rolls cotton (rui) into pointed battis and makes one stand upright in each of 5 empty diyas on her plate. When the minute is up, the lady with the most standing battis wins. The twist: every 15 seconds the host shouts "Lakshmi ji aa gayin!" and everyone must stand up, do namaste and sit down again before rolling, so steady hands suddenly get shaky. It needs only cotton, unlit diyas, plates and a timer, and works for 8 to 20 ladies in about 10 minutes.
Diya Batti Race in pictures
What do you need to play Diya Batti Race?
- A handful of cotton (rui) for each lady
- 5 empty, unlit clay diyas per lady, with no oil or ghee
- One steel plate per lady to hold the diyas
- A chair or floor cushion for each lady to sit on
- A phone timer set to 1 minute
How to play Diya Batti Race, step by step
- Seat every lady on a chair or cushion with a steel plate in front of her holding 5 empty diyas and a handful of cotton.
- Show everyone how to make a batti: pinch some cotton and roll it between the palms into a pointed wick with a flat base.
- Start the 1 minute timer. Each lady rolls battis and stands one upright in each diya as fast as she can.
- Every 15 seconds the host shouts "Lakshmi ji aa gayin!" and every lady must stand up, do namaste and sit back down before touching her cotton again.
- When the timer ends, hands off. The host checks every plate and counts only the battis that are standing upright in a diya.
Rules: how do you win?
- Only a batti standing upright inside a diya scores 1 point. A batti that has fallen over or is lying flat scores 0.
- A lady who does not stand up and do namaste on "Lakshmi ji aa gayin!" loses one batti from her score.
- Touching the plate after the timer ends cancels that batti.
- The lady with the most standing battis is crowned the Batti Queen. If there is a tie, the neatest battis win.
Fun twists to make it crazier
- One hand mode: roll battis with one hand only while the other hand stays on your head.
- Wish mode: along with the namaste, everyone must say "Shubh Deepawali" loudly, and anyone who forgets loses a batti.
- Final round: the top 3 ladies get 10 diyas each but the same 1 minute.
Tips for the host
- Never light the diyas or add oil for this game. It is played completely dry.
- Use clean cotton so the finished battis can be saved and used for the Diwali puja, and nothing is wasted.
- Seat ladies with knee or back trouble on a cushion and let them raise both hands for namaste instead of standing.
- Play the first 15 seconds as a practice round so everyone learns the Lakshmi ji call.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for Diya Batti Race?
Any number from 4 upwards. With 8 to 20 ladies everyone plays at the same time, so the whole game takes about 10 minutes.
What do you need to play Diya Batti Race?
A handful of cotton, 5 empty unlit diyas and a steel plate for each lady, a chair or cushion to sit on, and a phone timer.
Is Diya Batti Race a good Diwali kitty party game?
Yes. Every lady has rolled battis before Diwali, so it feels familiar, and the Lakshmi ji twist makes a calm task chaotic and funny.
How do you make a cotton batti that stands up?
Pinch some cotton, roll it firmly between your palms into a cone, and press the bottom flat with your fingers so it can stand in the diya.
Is Diya Batti Race safe for older ladies?
Yes. The diyas are never lit, there is no oil, and anyone who cannot stand easily can raise her hands for namaste while seated.
After the game, play Housie
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