Akhand jyoti for Navratri: keeping the lamp alight for nine nights

An akhand jyoti is a lamp lit on the first day of Navratri, at ghatasthapana, and kept burning without a break until the festival ends. It is one of the most loved traditions of the nine nights, and also one of the most nerve-racking: nobody wants to wake up at 3 a.m. to find it has gone out. A little preparation makes it much easier.

Choose a lamp that holds enough fuel

Use a large brass or clay akhand diya with a deep well, or a lamp designed for akhand jyoti with a glass chimney. The more fuel it holds, the less often you need to top it up, and the steadier the flame.

Use a thick, long wick

A regular phool batti burns out within an hour. An akhand jyot wick is a thick rope of twisted cotton, around 18 to 20 cm, that you coil in the lamp and draw forward as it burns. Soak it completely in ghee or oil before lighting so the whole wick is saturated.

Ghee or oil?

Both are used. Ghee gives a soft, golden flame and is preferred by many families; til (sesame) oil is more economical over nine days and burns steadily. Whatever you choose, don't switch fuels midway. Follow your family's practice.

Protect the flame

Draughts put out more akhand jyotis than anything else. Place the lamp away from fans, coolers and open windows, and cover it with a glass chimney. Set it on a metal plate or a bed of rice on a steel thali, never directly on cloth or near curtains.

Top up and trim, morning and night

Make it a habit to check the lamp after morning and evening aarti and before bed. Top up the fuel so the level stays below the spout, and draw the wick forward if the flame has shrunk. About 1 cm of wick should always stay above the fuel.

Changing the wick without breaking the flame

When a wick is nearly used up, soak a fresh one, light it from the existing flame, and place it in the lamp before you remove the old one. Some families keep a second small diya lit from the akhand jyoti for exactly this moment.

Safety first

An unattended flame burning for nine days needs care. Keep a fire-safe surface under it, keep children and pets away from it, and keep a lid or damp cloth nearby. If you must leave the house, ask a family member to watch the lamp.