Ask anyone over sixty how Diwali lights were made, and you’ll hear the same scene.
A steel plate of clay diyas on the floor. A bowl of ghee. A pile of cotton rolled into wicks between two palms. It took an hour, and it was the one hour of the festival when nobody dared to disturb the person doing it.
Today we have LED strings, wax tealights, scented jars and glass diyas shaped like modaks. More choice, less ritual. So which one should you light this year?
In short: Use oil diyas where the ritual matters: the entrance, the puja, the rangoli. Use candles where the mood matters: the drawing room, the dining table, the bedroom. Don’t light either near curtains, keep them away from children and pets, and never leave a flame unattended.
Diya vs candle: what’s the actual difference?
A diya is a ritual. It burns oil or ghee through a cotton wick. The flame is steady, warm and a little alive. In most homes, the diya is part of the puja itself. It isn’t decoration. It’s an offering.
A candle is an atmosphere. It burns wax, often with fragrance. It’s easier to place, needs no refilling, and can make a room smell like a memory.
Neither is “better”. They do different jobs, and the best Diwali homes use both.
How do you use an oil diya properly?
- Choose your oil. Ghee for puja, sesame or mustard oil for the rest of the house. Mustard oil smokes more, sesame burns cleaner.
- Make the wick right. Twist cotton into a firm, tapered wick. Leave about half a centimetre above the oil.
- Don’t overfill. Fill to about two-thirds. Overfilled diyas drown the wick and spill when moved.
- Light, then leave it alone. Moving a lit diya is the most common way to spill hot oil.
- Refill, don’t top up while lit. Let it go out, cool down, then add oil.
A glass oil diya, like our Chambu Modak Diya, works the same way. The difference is that the glass catches the flame, so one diya can light a whole corner.
Where do candles work better than diyas?
- Indoors, near people. A candle in a jar is safer on a coffee table than an open diya.
- For fragrance. A diya smells of oil and festival. A scented candle can smell of jasmine, oud, or rain on a Bombay balcony.
- For long evenings. A good soy candle burns for hours without attention to the wick.
My personal rule: diyas outside and at the mandir, candles inside where people sit.
How do you keep Diwali lighting safe?
This is the boring section that saves homes, so please read it.
- Keep flames at least a foot away from curtains, rangoli powder and paper lanterns.
- Put every diya and candle on a non-flammable base: a steel plate, a stone tray, a ceramic dish.
- Never leave a flame burning when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach, especially during puja chaos.
- Don’t place lit candles near fireworks or the door where crackers are passed in and out.
Five Diwali lighting ideas for small homes
- One statement corner instead of thirty scattered tealights. A cluster of diyas on a brass tray looks intentional.
- Floating candles in an urli at the entrance. Water plus flame plus marigolds is the most Indian thing in the world.
- Glass diyas on the window sill. They multiply the light and look beautiful from the street.
- One scented candle in the drawing room before guests arrive. It’s the cheapest home makeover there is.
- Diyas on every step. Even three steps outside a flat door feel like a welcome.
My opinion, since you asked
We’ve outsourced Diwali lighting to fairy lights from the market. They’re convenient, I’ll admit that. But light that you have to tend, refill and watch is different. It makes you slow down for an hour, the way our grandparents did.
So light at least one real flame this Diwali, and sit with it for five minutes.
If you need a diya for that, our Diwali Apno Wali collection has a few that I’m quietly very proud of.
Frequently asked questions
Which oil is best for Diwali diyas?
Ghee is traditional for puja. Sesame (til) oil burns cleanly for general lighting. Mustard oil works but produces more smoke.
Are candles okay to use for Diwali?
Yes. Candles are a safe, practical choice indoors. Many families light diyas for the puja and candles for décor.
How long does an oil diya burn?
It depends on its size and oil level. A small clay diya filled two-thirds usually lasts a few hours. Larger glass diyas can last much longer.