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Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home.

On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp.


When Should I Start Lighting Diyas?
The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home.

What is the purpose of lighting a diya?
Light dispels darkness. When we light a diya, we bring light into our hopes and positive energy in our personal spaces. Nothing is more beautiful than Light.

At what time should we light diya today?
Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset.
An ideal time would be to light the diya at least half an hour before sunset.

Can we light diya after 12 PM?
In Hindu homes, the diya is lit early morning at around sunrise and towards evening sunset.

Can we light diya at 4 PM?
No. This is not a good time to light diya at 4 pm.

Can we light diya at night?
It is best to light diya at dusk or at the time of 'sandhya' or sunset.

Why do people pray at 12 AM?
Prayer is an auspicious endeavour. It can be done whenever a devotee wants to. In Hindu homes, early mornings and sunsets are usually preferred for prayers.

How powerful is the midnight prayer?
The more you pray through the night, the more powerful it is in strengthening faith and divine protection in life. However, midnight prayers are usually an exception as devotees tend to pray early mornings and during the time of sunset in the evenings. On auspicious occasions such as Mahashivaratri, prayers are considered to be most powerful throughout the night. I've written about my personal experiences here - Mahashivaratri Benefits - You Cannot Imagine, Meaning of Maha Shivaratri]

Should diya face God or us?
Typically, a diya is placed in front of an image, figure or a picture of God. It faces the deity or form of God that we worship. It should point towards east or north.

Why is everyone lighting diyas today?
The purpose of light is to bring transformation and dispel darkness. People today have higher awareness and more clarity about creating and sustaining positive energy, which is why everyone is lighting diyas.

Is it ok to pray at 12 am?
You can pray anytime but an auspicious time is during Brahma muhurta which starts from 3.30 am onwards in the morning till about 5.30 am.

Is 4 am a good time to pray?
This is an excellent and powerful time to pray on a daily basis. You can light the lamp, pray, meditate and you are bound to experience great changes in your life.

Can we lit diya after sunset?
The right way is to light diya before sunset.

Can we light diya at 3 PM?
No. If the sky turns dark at 3 pm, it makes sense to honour this symbolic transition by lighting the diya. If the sky is bright and the sun is shining, it is not required.

Should the diya face God or us?
The diya is usually placed in front of the deity's form or image, with the light illuminating the divine form of the deity.

Can we light diya in periods?
There is no spiritual ban. A balanced approach is to prioritise your own well-being during periods. Resume lighting the diya after the fifth day.

Is praying at 3 AM powerful?
Definitely, 3 AM is a powerful time to pray every morning.

What time should we light the diya in the evening?
An ideal time would be to light the diya at least half an hour before sunset - this is the golden gateway - when the colour of the sky changes completely.

Can we resuse diya for pooja?
Yes, you can. However, if the diya is half-broken or is not fit to be reused, opt for a new diya.

Can we do pooja at 3 am?
Yes you can do pooja at 3 am - from 3.30 am onwards, as it is considered to be Bramhamuhurtham, a sacred time to undertake meditation, prayer and sadhana.

How big idols can be kept at home?
Choose the size according to your space for pooja in your home.

Is it Brahmamuhurta at 3 am?
It is believed that Brahmamuhurta begins at around 3.30 am.

Can we light diyas at 4pm?
Typically, we don't see sunset at 4 pm. If sunset is at 4 pm, you can light diya.

What is the time for Sandhya Deepam?
Half an hour before sunset is an ideal time for Sandhya Deepam.

Is Sandhya Deepam lit every day?
Yes. This is an age-old ritual of bringing divine light and grace into our homes and hearts especially during sunset.

When to light diya in the evening?
In Hindu homes, 'Sandhya kaal' is the time of sunset when we light diya.

Can we light deepam in the afternoon?
You can if you want to.

What should be avoided during Sandhya?
During Sandhya deepam or Sandhya vandanam, avoid negative thoughts, words and actions. Avoid gossiping about others, speaking ill of others and indulging in sensory pleasures including consuming non-Sattvic food.

A good thing to do is to read a chapter of any sacred scriptures including the Bhagavad Gita and reflect on it. If possible, read it out to other family members.


As much as possible, do not skip your evening prayers.

How long do you let your diya burn?
This varies from one person to another. It is important to decide how you want to do this. You cannot extinguish it at different times each day - be punctual with your sadhana and completion of your prayers - this is important to your routine. Most people let the deepam or diya burn out naturally. In some homes, it is extinguished gently immediately after prayers are completed. In my parents' home, the diya is gently extinguished only before everyone goes to sleep. Most importantly, trust your heart as that is where your Ishta Devata resides.

Can we light diya at 8 pm? You can light a diya at 8 pm. However, in most homes, it is a time when everyone sits down together for dinner or some family activity. Take that into consideration.

A more ideal and auspicious time would be early mornings and during 'Sandhyakaal' in the evening.

When to light a lamp in the puja room?
Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset.

Whatever you do, offer it with sincerity and love in your heart. Our Devatas are watching, they know when we offer mechanically.

You maybe wondering, "How do they know?"


Because Devatas are not separate from us - they are indwellers of our heart. They know exactly what we are thinking, why are we making offerings.

That is why it is important to make offerings with purity of mind and body.

As Mary Oliver says, "Attention is the beginning of devotion."

Even if it is a leaf that you are offering, as Sri Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagawad Gita, do it with absolute love in your heart.

If you found this useful, SHARE this article with your loved ones so that more people offer 'Sandhya Vandanam' and evening prayers.

Remember, the words of Einstein, "Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of Truth."

Trust your heart, learn through your own experiences and trust your own self first.

Stay blessed and happy as you light the lamp every day.

May your heart and home be effulgent with divine blessings and grace.

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