Diya On Diwali lighting lamps called diyas are an important part of the celebration. (more) diya lamp Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/diya Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: deep, deepak, deeya, diva Written by Tamanna Nangia Tamanna Nangia is Associate Editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over five years of experience in editorial processes, handling many different aspects of the publishing process: content development,... Tamanna Nangia Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 11, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Also called: deepak, deeya, diva, deep (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is a diya, and what is it made from? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "A diya is a small lamp filled with oil. It is traditionally made from clay or metal such as brass." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What do the oil and the wick in a diya symbolize? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Hinduism oil represents human vices such as greed and jealousy, and the wick symbolizes the human soul." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How are clay diyas traditionally made? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Clay diyas are made by potter communities, shaped on a potteru2019s wheel or by hand, dried in the sun, and fired in a kiln." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the significance of lighting a diya in Hinduism? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Lighting a diya is an act of spiritual purification, inviting enlightenment and connecting with God. Diyas are lit daily during puja and arti." } } ] } Top Questions What is a diya, and what is it made from? A diya is a small lamp filled with oil. It is traditionally made from clay or metal such as brass.

　　What do the oil and the wick in a diya symbolize? In Hinduism oil represents human vices such as greed and jealousy, and the wick symbolizes the human soul.

　　How are clay diyas traditionally made? Clay diyas are made by potter communities, shaped on a potter’s wheel or by hand, dried in the sun, and fired in a kiln.

　　What is the significance of lighting a diya in Hinduism? Lighting a diya is an act of spiritual purification, inviting enlightenment and connecting with God. Diyas are lit daily during puja and arti.

　　diya, small lamp, filled with oil, that is widely used across India, particularly in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions. Diyas are traditionally made from clay or metal such as brass. A diya has a small, shallow bowl-like structure with a cotton wick partly inserted so that one end rests immersed in oil or ghee (Hindi: “clarified butter”) and the other extends above the rim to be lit. The oil in the diya is sometimes interpreted as representing human vices such as greed, jealousy, hatred, and lust, and the wick symbolizes the human soul, or atman. Lighting the diya is therefore ...(100 of 390 words)

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