How many diyas should you light on Diwali?

Updated 12 October 2026.

There is no single rule. Families follow their own elders, and the count changes from home to home and region to region. What follows is what is most commonly done, plus a practical count for a Mumbai flat.

Common counts by day

• Dhanteras: one diya at the main door in the evening, often facing south for Yama (Yama Deepam). Many families light 13 diyas in total that night.
• Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali): many light 14 diyas, one in each corner and doorway of the house.
• Lakshmi Puja (Diwali night, Sunday 8 November 2026): one large diya at the puja, kept burning through the night if it is safe, plus as many small diyas as you like around the home. Odd numbers (5, 7, 11, 21, 51) are a common choice.
• Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj: usually a few diyas at the door and the puja place.

Where to place them at home

• Main entrance: on both sides of the door, on or beside the rangoli.
• Puja place: the main ghee or oil diya in front of Lakshmi and Ganesh.
• Kitchen and near the water source (tap or water tank): one each is a common custom.
• Balcony and windows: a row along the ledge, out of reach of curtains and kids.
• Tulsi plant: one diya at its base.

A simple count for a Mumbai flat

A 1BHK or 2BHK usually needs 11 to 21 diyas for Diwali night: 2 at the door, 1 at the puja, 1 in the kitchen, 1 at the tulsi, and the rest along the balcony and windows. Buy a few more than you plan to light; clay cracks, and neighbours always need one.

Safety in a high-rise

• Keep diyas off wooden ledges and away from curtains, dry plants and paper lanterns.
• Use a steel plate or a tray of sand under balcony diyas; Mumbai wind blows wicks sideways.
• Soak new clay diyas in water for an hour and dry them before use so they soak up less oil.
• Never leave lit diyas alone in a room with kids or pets.

Giving diyas instead of just lighting them

Diwali is also when people give diyas: to neighbours, to the building staff, to a child's whole class. A diya with the person's name on it is the one that gets lit instead of sitting in a drawer. NameDiya hand-paints clay diyas and puts each name on a kraft pouch with a tealight inside. 20 for ₹1,199, free delivery in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Get one free sample diya with your name on it, or see Diwali gifts for your housing society.

Want it on a real diya?

NameDiya hand-paints clay diyas and prints each guest's name on a kraft pouch: 20 for ₹1,199, delivered free in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Get one free sample diya with your name on it.