Satsang Why do we light a lamp?

Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah
Om Sai Ram

This is a request to all who are reading this-- kindly forward
this message to your children and grand children.It will give
them a basic knowledge of some hindu customs and the
reasons behind why we practice them..

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Why do we light a lamp?
In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the
altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some,
twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is
maintained continuously (Akhanda Deepa). All auspicious
functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which
is often maintained right through the occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance.
The Lord is the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is
the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge.
Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.

Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness.
Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer
achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp
to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of
wealth. Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would
remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further
spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes
our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego.
When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly
exhausted and the ego too finally perishes.
The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we
should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher
ideals.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the
Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes
the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be
achieved in life.