Nail polish on wicks goes viral as a Diwali diya trick, but fire safety is urged

As Diwali nears, homes get busy with cleaning, decoration and diyas in the courtyard. When diyas are lit at doors, windows and balconies in the evening, the whole house glows. But one problem returns every year: a gust of wind comes in and the diya goes out.

If a diya has to be lit again and again and keeps going out, irritation is bound to follow. For anyone facing this problem this Diwali, a different trick is doing the rounds on social media, and people are asking in surprise whether it really works.

Renuka's Marathi Kitchen Katta has posted a video on its page. It says nail polish should be applied to the tip of the wick. Nail polish of different colours is to be applied, left to dry for a while, and the diya then lit. The claim is that, with this done, the diya does not go out even when the wind blows and it burns for longer.

Many women have tried the trick after watching the video. But it should be remembered that nail polish is flammable, meaning it can catch fire quickly. Take full care while trying this trick. It is not right to play with fire.

If you buy new clay diyas from the market, do not use them straight away. First remove the dust and soil on them. Then wash them with water, wipe them with a dry cloth and let them dry completely. If even a little water or moisture is left in the diya, the oil does not settle properly and the diya does not burn well. So pour oil in only once the diya is completely dry.

For those who do not want to try the nail polish trick, there are other easy and safe ways to keep a diya from going out.

First, use a glass cover. Place a glass cover over a diya kept outside, or use an enclosed diya such as a lantern-style one. This keeps direct wind off and the flame burns steadily. Keep a little gap between the flame and the glass, or the glass will get hot.

Second, set the wick properly. A very large wick makes a big flame and the oil runs out quickly. A very small wick makes the diya go out quickly. So use a cotton wick of medium thickness suited to the size of the diya.

Third, the place where the diya is kept matters. Do not place it right at the edge of a window or near a door, where strong wind comes in. Keep it on a level, stable surface. Most important, keep diyas away from curtains, paper decorations and flowers, or an accident can happen.

Finally, safety matters as much as decorating the home at Diwali. New hacks keep appearing on social media every day, and not every one needs to be tried at home. Where fire, oil, candles and chemicals are involved, take even more care. However impressive the nail polish trick may seem, try it first on a single diya, watch from a distance, and only then apply it to all the diyas. Let Diwali pass in joy, not in worry.