Brass vs Clay Diyas: How Many to Light & Where for Diwali

Diwali is, quite literally, the festival of lamps. Long before the fairy lights go up, it is the small flame of a diya that marks the day. One sits in the mandir, two guard the doorway, a row runs along the balcony, and somewhere near the tulsi plant another one flickers away. Yet every year the same questions come up at home. Should you light brass or clay? Is ghee really better than oil? How many diyas are enough, and which corners of the house actually need one?

This guide answers all of it in one place, so you can plan your diyas for all five days of Diwali without second-guessing.

🪔 Why We Light Diyas on Diwali

The most popular story goes back to Ayodhya, where people lit rows of lamps to welcome Lord Rama home after fourteen years of exile. On a deeper level, the diya stands for the victory of light over darkness and of knowledge over ignorance. On Amavasya, the darkest night of the month, a home full of lamps is also an open invitation to Goddess Lakshmi. Tradition holds that she enters homes that are clean, bright and welcoming, which is why no corner is meant to stay dark on Diwali night.

Before every puja, many households recite the Deepa Jyoti mantra while lighting the first lamp:

⚖️ Brass vs Clay vs Ghee Diyas: At a Glance

One thing clears up most of the confusion. Brass and clay are what the diya is made of. Ghee (or oil) is what it burns. So a "ghee diya" can be brass or clay. The real choice is which lamp and which fuel suit each spot in your home.

🏺 Clay (Mitti) Diyas: The Heart of Diwali Decoration

Nothing looks quite like Diwali the way a row of clay diyas does. They are affordable, so you can light many of them, and they carry an old link to the earth. Buying fresh mitti diyas every year also supports the potters who make them.

Use clay diyas for:

• Both sides of the main door and the threshold
• Around and inside your rangoli
• Window sills, balconies, parapets and terraces
• The tulsi plant, courtyard and garden

Prep tip most people skip: soak new clay diyas in water for a few hours, or overnight, and let them dry before use. Dry clay drinks up oil fast, so a soaked diya burns longer and wastes less oil. It also keeps the clay from cracking from the heat.

If you want something more festive than plain mitti, painted and designer pieces from our decorative diyas and puja lamps collection work beautifully as centrepieces.

✨ Brass Diyas: For the Mandir and Lakshmi Puja

Brass is the traditional metal for puja lamps. It is considered auspicious, it keeps the flame steady, and a good brass diya can stay in the family for generations. That is why the main lamp for Lakshmi Puja is usually brass.

Common brass lamps you will see at Diwali:

• Simple brass diya: for daily puja and the main ghee lamp
• Samai or standing oil lamp: tall lamps for either side of the mandir
• Panch aarti diya: five wicks, used for aarti after the puja
• Akhand jyoti: a covered lamp that can burn through the night

Care tip: clean brass diyas a few days before Diwali with tamarind, lemon and salt, or pitambari powder. Wipe dry straight after, because leftover moisture is what brings the dull patches back.

Browse our brass diyas and samai oil lamps, or pick up an aarti diya for the puja itself.

🧈 Ghee or Oil? Choosing the Right Fuel

The fuel matters as much as the lamp. Each one has its own place in tradition, and most homes use a mix on Diwali night.

Which wick goes with which fuel?

• Phool batti (round cotton wick): best with ghee in small brass diyas and aarti lamps
• Lambi batti (long cotton wick): best with oil in clay diyas and samai
• Number of wicks: one is standard, a four-wick (chaumukha) diya is used for Yama Deepam, and five wicks for panch aarti

🔢 How Many Diyas to Light on Diwali

There is no single fixed number in the scriptures, and customs change from region to region and family to family. Still, a few guidelines are followed widely:

• Light an odd number. Odd counts such as 5, 7, 11, 21, 51 or 108 are considered auspicious.
• Five is the minimum many families follow. These go at the mandir, main door, tulsi, kitchen and the place where you keep money.
• Light the mandir diya first, then carry the flame to the rest of the house.

Here is how the count commonly changes across the five days:

Follow your own family's custom wherever it differs. What matters most is that the lamps are lit with care and a clean heart.

📍 Where to Place Diyas at Home

If you are lighting a limited number, these are the spots that matter most, in rough order of priority:

🧭 Which Direction Should the Diya Face?

• East: believed to bring good health and a long life
• North: believed to bring wealth and success, which makes it ideal on Lakshmi Puja night
• West: generally acceptable, though east and north are preferred
• South: avoided for everyday lamps. The one exception is the Yama Deepam on Dhanteras, which faces south on purpose

The mandir itself ideally sits in the north-east of the home. If you are setting up or shifting your mandir before Diwali, read our pooja mandir direction as per Vastu guide.

🙏 How to Light Diyas the Right Way

1. Clean first. Polish brass diyas and soak clay diyas a day ahead. Clean the spots where they will sit.
2. Set them on a base. Place every diya on a small plate, a bed of rice or a tray, never directly on the floor.
3. Fill and add the wick. Fill ghee or oil about three-quarters full and let the wick soak for a minute.
4. Light the mandir diya first. Light the main ghee lamp while reciting the Deepa Jyoti mantra.
5. Carry the flame outward. Use a matchstick or incense stick lit from the main lamp to light the rest, moving from the mandir towards the entrance.
6. Do not blow them out. Tradition says not to blow out a puja lamp. Let it burn out, or put it out gently with a flower or by covering it.

The main diya also sits at the centre of your puja thali. For the full list of what goes on the plate, see our Diwali puja thali items list, or choose a ready pooja thali.

🛡️ Diya Safety Tips

• Keep diyas well away from curtains, paper lanterns, dry flowers and torans.
• Do not wear loose dupattas or flowing sleeves while lighting rows of diyas.
• Place lamps out of reach of small children and pets, and keep them away from paths where people walk.
• On windy balconies, use deeper diyas or glass-covered lamps.
• If you keep an akhand jyoti burning overnight, use a covered lamp on a metal plate and check it before bed.
• Keep a bucket of water or sand close by on the terrace or balcony.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions