Diwali with candles: diyas, urlis and lighting a house safely

Diwali is the one night a home holds more flames than any other. Here is how we plan ours.

How many and how long

• Soy diyas burn for about 4 to 5 hours, so one set covers the evening. Six for the entrance and the puja, twelve if you line a balcony.
• Floating lotuses burn for about 3 hours. An urli takes three to six, with petals around them.
• Tealights burn for about 4 hours; buy them by the dozen for rows on steps and window sills.

Wax or oil?

Oil diyas are tradition. Wax diyas are the same glow without the spills on rangoli and marble, and they do not need topping up during the evening. Ours are poured into painted terracotta, so next year the diyas can take oil again.

Safety with many flames

• Keep diyas and tealights at least 8 cm apart, so they do not melt each other.
• Keep every flame away from curtains, dupattas, paper lanterns and rangoli powder.
• Floating candles go in water only.
• Children and pets need a clear path that does not pass the diyas.
• Put every flame out before you leave a room, and before bed.

Order early

Handmade candles are poured in batches. Order two to three weeks before Diwali, and four weeks for gifting in quantity.