On this page you can light an online diya for your ishta devta, your ancestors or someone you love. Choose whom the diya is for, tap, and the flame comes alive. If you wish, ring the bell, do aarti and shower flowers. This virtual diya is for moments when you are away from home, travelling, or simply want to remember God for a minute during the day. The number of diyas you have lit stays on your phone, and you can send a WhatsApp message inviting family and friends to light one too.
This is a small gesture of devotion — not a replacement for lighting a real diya at your home shrine. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to light the online diya
- Choose whom it is for: Lakshmi–Ganesh, Hanuman ji, Shiv ji, Durga Maa, Krishna, Ram, your ancestors (pitru), or “a loved one”, where you can type their name.
- Light the diya: tap the lamp and the wick catches, with a gently flickering flame.
- Ring the ghanti (optional): the bell sound is created in your browser — nothing is downloaded. If your phone is on silent you may not hear it.
- Do aarti (optional): the aarti thali circles the diya, just as at home.
- Shower flowers (optional): petals fall over the lamp.
- Invite others: share a WhatsApp message asking others to light a diya.
Your count of diyas lit is saved only in this browser on this device. No name or detail is sent to any server, and clearing browser data will reset the count.
A devotional gesture, not a replacement for puja
A diya on a screen does not take the place of a real lamp or a proper puja at home. It is a gesture of devotion — like folding your hands as you pass a temple. When you are sitting with someone in hospital, living in a hostel or abroad where an open flame isn’t allowed, or at work when sandhya falls, it offers a quiet moment of remembrance. Whenever you can, light a clay diya at home; let this page be a reminder of that habit, not a substitute for it.
Why we light a diya
In Sanatan tradition the lamp stands for knowledge, auspiciousness and the presence of the divine. The Upanishadic prayer “tamaso ma jyotirgamaya” — “lead me from darkness to light” — says it best: the flame removes not only outer darkness but ignorance and fear within. Deep (the lamp) is also one of the five basic offerings of puja, alongside fragrance, flowers, incense and food, which is why every puja, aarti or paath begins by lighting a lamp.
When diyas are traditionally lit
| Occasion | Custom |
|---|---|
| Daily sandhya | At sunset, at the puja place, by the tulsi and at the doorway |
| Diwali | After Lakshmi–Ganesh puja, rows of diyas through the home |
| Kartik maas | Deepdaan through the month at rivers, ponds, temples and the tulsi |
| Dev Deepawali | Countless lamps on ghats and in temples on Kartik Purnima |
| Dhanteras night | A lamp in Yama’s name, outside, facing south |
| For ancestors | Facing south during Pitru Paksha and on Amavasya |
For the full Diwali puja, see the Diwali Lakshmi Puja Vidhi. To see when each vrat and festival falls, check the Vrat Calendar. Customs vary by region and family.
Ghee or oil, direction and wicks
- Ghee diya: considered most auspicious for worship and aarti, usually with a round cotton (phool) wick.
- Sesame oil: common for daily sandhya, for Shani dev and for ancestors.
- Mustard oil: widely used in North India for Diwali, Saturdays and Hanuman ji, with a long wick.
- Direction: for worship the flame is traditionally kept facing east or north; south is associated with ancestors and Yama.
- Wicks: one wick for daily puja is most common; some homes use two facing each other; a four-wick chaumukha diya is used at Diwali, and a five-wick panchmukhi for special aarti.
The most important rule: use whatever is pure and available, with devotion. Costly materials are not needed.
How to light a real diya at home
- Soak a new clay diya in water for a few hours so it absorbs less oil, then let it dry.
- Roll clean cotton into a wick between your palms.
- Fill the diya about three-quarters with ghee or oil and let the wick soak.
- Place it on a plate or leaf so oil does not spread; a few grains of rice beneath it are customary.
- Light it, fold your hands and chant a simple name such as “Om Namah Shivaya” or “Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram”. To keep count of your jap, try the Jap Mala Counter.
Keep the lamp away from curtains and paper, and out of reach of children and pets. Tradition discourages blowing out a diya; fan it gently with your hand instead.
Eco-friendly clay diyas
Clay diyas are made from natural earth and return to it. Buying from local potters supports their livelihood, especially at Diwali, and ghee or oil lamps in clay leave less waste than wax or plastic decorative lights. Unbroken diyas can be washed, sun-dried and reused, and for deepdaan in a river, use leaf bowls and flowers rather than plastic or thermocol.
Frequently asked questions
How do I light an online diya?
Choose whom the diya is for — such as Lakshmi–Ganesh, Hanuman ji or your ancestors — and tap the lamp. The flame lights up, and you can also ring the bell, do aarti and shower flowers.
Is the online diya free?
Yes, it is free and runs in your browser with no login or app.
Can I light a diya in a loved one's name?
Yes. Choose ‘for a loved one’, type their name and light the diya. The name stays on your device and is not sent to any server.
Is an online diya the same as real puja?
No. It is a devotional gesture and does not replace a real lamp or puja at home. Whenever possible, light a clay diya for sandhya.
Why can't I hear the bell?
The bell sound is created in your browser, so it won’t be heard if your phone is on silent or the volume is low. Turn the volume up and ring again.
Where can I see how many diyas I have lit?
The tool shows a count of the diyas you have lit, saved only in this browser on this device. Clearing browser data resets it.
How do I invite others on WhatsApp?
Tap the WhatsApp button; a ready message opens inviting others to light a diya. Pick a contact or group and send.
What is the significance of lighting a diya?
The lamp stands for knowledge, auspiciousness and the divine presence. The prayer ‘tamaso ma jyotirgamaya’ — lead me from darkness to light — expresses its meaning.
Should I use a ghee or oil diya?
A ghee diya is considered most auspicious for worship and aarti, while sesame or mustard oil is common for daily sandhya, Saturdays and ancestors. Use whatever is pure and available, with devotion.
Which direction should the diya face?
For worship, the flame is traditionally kept facing east or north. South is associated with ancestors and Yama, so the Yama deep and lamps for ancestors face south.
How many wicks should a diya have?
One wick is most common for daily puja. A four-wick chaumukha diya is used at Diwali and a five-wick panchmukhi diya for special aarti.
When is a diya lit for ancestors?
During Pitru Paksha and on Amavasya, a lamp is traditionally lit in the evening facing south; in many homes it is also placed under a peepal tree.
What is Kartik maas deepdaan?
It is the custom of lighting lamps at rivers, ponds, temples and the tulsi throughout the month of Kartik. On Kartik Purnima, Dev Deepawali is celebrated with countless lamps.
What should I do before lighting a new clay diya?
Soak it in water for a few hours and let it dry so it absorbs less oil. Then add a cotton wick and fill it with ghee or oil.
Can I light a Diwali online diya?
Yes. Choose Lakshmi–Ganesh, tap to light, then do aarti and shower flowers. Do also light real diyas at home and follow the Diwali Lakshmi puja vidhi.