DIYA (LIGHT)

''Diya'' is a lamp made usually of clay, with wick made of cotton and dipped in ghee or vegetable oils. Clay diyas are temporary and are used for special occasions, while diyas made of brass are permanent fixtures in homes and temples.
The Indian light festival Diwali is traditionally lit up by huge numbers of 'Diya'. They are also used for praying to the deceased ancestors and are floated on leaves over the holy rivers like the Ganges at Haridwar. A single clay diya is lit at the head of a deceased person during a wake.