What type of oil lamp is traditionally lit during Diwali? A diya is the traditional oil lamp lit during Diwali.
A diya is usually a small lamp made from baked clay, though brass, silver and other materials are also used. A cotton wick rests in oil or ghee, and families place the lamps in homes, temples, windows, entrances and along balconies. Rows of diyas give Deepavali—“a row of lights”—its familiar visual identity.
The lamp carries symbolic meaning as well as practical religious importance. Its flame is commonly understood to represent light overcoming darkness, knowledge overcoming ignorance, and good overcoming evil. Diyas are also used in puja and aarti, when a flame is offered reverently before a deity.
A common mix-up is treating diya as a broad synonym for every Diwali light. Modern celebrations may include candles, electric strings and lanterns, but those do not replace the specific traditional oil-lamp term. Regional lamps may have multiple wicks or distinctive shapes, yet they remain forms of the same lamp tradition.