dyas

Dyas is a term with more than one potential meaning, depending on the context. In cultural and religious contexts, dyas can be a variant transliteration of the word diya, referring to the small clay oil lamp used in South Asian rituals. Diyas are typically filled with oil or ghee and lit during ceremonies and festivals such as Diwali, where rows of lamps symbolize the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. The lamps vary in size, shape, and decoration, and are used in homes, temples, and public celebrations.

In onomastics, Dyas is also a surname found among people of Indian origin and in the Indian diaspora. As a family name, it appears in various regional communities, with spelling variations that reflect local languages and transliteration practices. Like many Indian surnames, the precise origin and meaning of Dyas can differ by lineage and geographic area, and it may be linked to personal, occupational, or patronymic origins in different contexts.

Because dyas can refer to distinct ideas in different domains—ritual lamps and a family surname—clarifying the intended sense is often necessary in discourse. Without additional context, the term may require specification to determine whether it refers to the lamps used in rituals or to a surname practiced by individuals or families.