Diwali 2023: Significance Of Lighting Oil And Ghee Lamps During The Festival

The festive season has begun with great fervor and as Diwali approaches, the markets are being decorated with lights and decorations. People are busy buying essential items, gifts, lights, lamps, clothes etc. While these aspects are integral to the celebration, one of the most important rituals of Diwali is the lighting of diwas or clay lamps. These small lamps have great symbolic significance.

Lighting lamps on Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness. As Diwali falls on the new moon day, the lamps lit on this day symbolize the removal of darkness, both physically and metaphorically. The lamp also represents goodness, purity and good fortune. While some prefer ghee to fuel these clay lamps, others prefer oil. According to tradition, the lamps are usually acquired on the day of Ashwin Purnima, which falls two weeks before Diwali. These lamps are soaked in water to prepare them for Diwali worship.

Pandit Kalki Ram, a noted astrologer in Ayodhya explains the importance of lighting clay lamps with mustard oil at home. It suggests that oil lamps can help overcome problems associated with certain planets like Saturn and Mars. This age-old tradition is believed to bring happiness and peace to the home. Moreover, the act of lighting the lamps pleases Goddess Lakshmi, who then blesses the devotees with happiness and prosperity. On the other hand, lighting a ghee lamp on Diwali is also considered very auspicious. This practice is an auspicious way to seek the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. Besides offering blessings, the light emitted from the ghee lamp is believed to dispel ignorance, attract wealth and prosperity, and impart knowledge.