Lighting a diya is a simple and meaningful act of remembrance. Whether you choose to light it during Wave of Light, Diwali, Lights of Love, a birthday, anniversary or a quiet moment of reflection, the following guidance will help you use your diya safely and effectively. 

• Place your diya on a stable, heat-resistant surface. 

• Gently twist the cotton into an elongated shape (called a batti), making sure it tapers at one end.  

• Lay the wick along the inner curve of the diya with the base resting in the ghee or oil, and the tip pointed toward the front pinch or spout of the clay base. 

• Fill the diya so that the wick is totally covered, and about three quarters full.  

• Before lighting, fully saturate the cotton wick with the ghee or oil. This helps the flame light correctly and burn more evenly. The longer you can saturate the cotton for the better it will lite.   

• Position the wick so that the majority sits within the ghee or oil, with only a small section resting on the edge of the diya ready to be lit. 

• Carefully light the exposed end of the wick. If the wick shifts or the flame is too high, use a matchstick or tweezers to gently adjust its position, moving more of the wick into the diya.  

• Allow the diya to burn for as long as you wish, ensuring it remains supervised at all times. 

• Once extinguished and cooled, any remaining ghee or oil can be stored and reused. Simply wipe the diya clean before its next use. 

Reusing your wick 

If the wick has not completely burned, you may reuse it. Allow it to cool fully before storing it in a dry place until your next remembrance moment. 

Using a tealight 

If you prefer, your diya can also be used with a tealight candle. Simply place the tealight securely within the diya and follow the same safety guidance. 

Using incense 

The diya includes a dedicated holder within its centre for an incense stick. To ensure safe use, we recommend using either the diya flame or the incense holder separately, rather than at the same time.