Happy Diwali 2023: Significance of lighting oil and ghee lamps during the festival

The festive season has started with great fervour and as Diwali draws closer, the markets have been glittering with beautiful lights and garlands. People are seen running around the market to buy necessary goods, presents, lights, lamps, clothes, and so on to celebrate the grand festival of Diwali. However, the lighting of diyas or earthen lamps is the most essential ritual of Diwali. These simple lamps are of religious and spiritual importance.

Lighting of diyas on the occasion of Diwali symbolises victory of light over darkness. The festival is celebrated to commemorate Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after he slayed the demon King Ravan. It is said that when Lord Ram returned with Goddess Sita and his brother Lakshman after their 14-year exile, it was Amavasya Tithi and the people of Ayodhya lit several diyas or earthen lamps to celebrate the joyous occasion. Diwali or Deepavali has a deeper significance in the sense that the lamps represent the vanquishing of darkness in both real and metaphoric terms.

What is the significance of lighting earthen lamps on Diwali?
Earthen lamps lit using ghee or mustard oil are not just light sources but they are embodiments of goodness and purity.
Some prefer to lit these lamps with ghee while others use oil. Diyas are traditionally bought on the Ashwin Purnima, which is the full moon day that is two weeks before Diwali. To purify these lamps for the Diwali Puja, they are soaked in the water.

This year Diwali will be celebrated on November 12 while Ashwin Purnima was observed on October 28.