Almost every Hindu ritual begins with the lighting of the lamp, an extension of the daily lamp-lighting ritual in the morning and evening that one can see in most Hindu households, beginning and ending the day with an invocation to light. The flame thus lit is called 'jyoti' or 'deepak' -- representing Agni;(holy fire) it refers to not just the physical fire but symbolizes the cosmic force or Divine Light.
Our relationship with light is as old as our beginnings; we've always been drawn towards light.
It stands for auspiciousness, prosperity and abundance. Light brings brightness; in doing so, it dispels darkness and we begin to see things clearly.
The oil used to light the lamp represents negative human tendencies. The wick of a lamp symbolizes the ego. The flame, which always looks up, represents spiritual knowledge that evolves towards a higher consciousness. Knowledge drains the oil or innate tendencies as it burns and destroys the wick.
When we pray to Goddesses by lighting a lamp, the belief is that we will be richly rewarded with tremendous prosperity. Married women or girls of marriageable age are always advised to light a lamp and pray for the welfare of their family, pray for marriage to a good boy, pray for motherhood.
I took this shot from my Nexus 4 cellphone camera last November during the Hindu Festival of lights called Diwali-- the start of the Hindu New Year!
I havemade slight adjustments to the brightness and have resized it to FAR requirements.
Enjoy!