Deepa

This name derives from the Sanskrit “Dīya / Dīpaka,” meaning “source of light.” Deepak (and its variants) is a Hindi word meaning lamp from the Sanskrit “Deepa or Diya,” or source of light. It is mostly used to decorate houses during Tihar in Nepal and Dipawali in India. In the twentieth century, it became very popular as a first name for male Hindus. A diya, divaa, deepa, deepam, or deepak is an oil lamp, usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or vegetable oils. Diyas are native to India and are often used in Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Zoroastrian religious festivals such as Diwali or the Kushti ceremony. A similar lamp called a butter lamp is used in Tibetan Buddhist offerings as well. Diyas, also known as deepam in Tamil “Nadu,” can be lighted, especially during the Karthikai Deepam.