How to choose a kuthuvilakku

A kuthuvilakku is usually bought once and kept for a lifetime, so it is worth choosing slowly.

Start with where it will stand. For a small pooja shelf, a 10 or 12 inch lamp is enough. For a pooja room floor, or a lamp you will light at weddings and housewarmings, choose 18 to 24 inches. Hold your hand flat at the height of the shelf and imagine the flame; it should be just below eye level when you sit.

Then choose the number of faces. Many families light one face daily, two for guests and all five on festival days. A five-face lamp gives you all three choices.

Weight tells you more than looks. A heavier lamp of the same height has thicker walls, a steadier base and will not wobble when you trim the wick. As a rough guide, a good 18 inch lamp weighs at least 1.4 kg.

Finally, check that the lamp unscrews into parts. Oil collects in every joint, and a lamp that comes apart is a lamp that can be cleaned properly.