Let's Solve A

Guesstimate
problem statement
Estimate the amount of
oil used in diyas on Diwali
in India
 Assumptions
The population of India is 1.4 cr.
Only Hindus will celebrate Diwali.
The average Hindu family has four
members.
The majority diyas are filled with oil.
3 sizes of diyas will be included.
The volume of Diya can be measured
from the combination of the hemisphere
and half cone.
 Assumptions
40 diyas per household.
There will be a temple per 100 Hindus.
Ignoring people with no house.
Only small diyas are used in temples
and ghats.
 Structure
Division on the
basis of
religion
x % of Hindu
people x No. of Hindu
Families

x Division of No. of diyas Quantity of oil

Diyas into
different sizes
= used in different
places
x used in Diyas
on temples and
ghats

+ Quantity of oil Quantity of oil

used in Diyas
in households
+ used in Diyas
on commercial x Volume of oil
used in diyas
places

=
Amount of oil used in
diyas on diwali in india
 step 1
Calculating number of Hindu Families

Population of India 1,40 crore

Religion Mix
Hindu 75%
Muslim 15%
Christian 5%
Others 5%
No. of Hindus 105 crore
No. of Hindus who celebrate Diwali 100 crore
(95%)
No. of Hindu Families 25 crore
 step 2
Volume of Diyas

HEMISPHERE
Radius (in cm) 3
Volume (in cm^3) 57
PARTIAL CONE
Radius (in cm) 1
Height (in cm) 1.2
Volume (in cm^3) 1.3
Total Volume of Small Diya 58

Medium Large
Sizes Small (2 x small (4 x small
diya) diya)
Total Volume of Diya 58 116 231
% of volume by oil 70% 70% 70%
Quantity of oil used in Diyas 0.040 0.081 0.162
(in litres)
 step 3
Areas of Celebration
Sizes Small Medium Large
% of sizes of household 70% 25% 5%
18 crore 6 crore 1 crore
20 40 60
No. of Diyas used
360 crore 240 crore 60 crore
Total Diyas used by Hindu 660 crore
households having a house
Diya sizes
Proportion
Small 95% 70% 50%
Medium 5% 25% 35%
Large 0% 5% 15%
 step 3
Areas of Celebration

Number

Small 342 crore 168 crore 30 crore

Medium 18 crore 60 crore 21 crore

Large - 12 crore 9 crore

Quantity of oil used in Houses (in litres)

Small 14 crore 7 crore 1 crore
Medium 1 crore 5 crore 2 crore
Large - 2 crore 1 crore
Total (in litres) 33 crore
 step 3
Areas of Celebration
Temples and Ghats
Number of temples in India 20,00,000
Size Small Medium Big
Proportion 60% 30% 10%
Number 12 lakh 6 lakh 2 lakh
100 250 1000
Diyas per Mandir
12 crore 15 crore 20 crore
Quantity of oil used in Diyas 48 lakh 60 lakh 80 lakh
Total oil used in Diyas in 1.9 crore
temples ~2 crore

Number of ghats in India 100

Number of diyas lit on ghats 10,000
Total Diyas on ghats 10,00,000
The volume of oil used in Diyas on ghats 40,000
 step 4
Celebration in commercial places
Commercial Places
Number of Hindu Households owning 2,50,000
a shop/commercial area/offices etc.
Proportion of people celebrating 40%
Diwali in the commercial area
Number of people celebrating Diwali 1,00,000
in commercial area
Shops/ Offices Others
Malls
Proportion 45% 35% 15%
Number 45,000 35,000 15,000
 step 4
Celebration in commercial places

Shops/Malls Offices Others

Small 65% 60% 70%
Diyas
Medium 20% 30% 25%
Large 15% 10% 5%
No. of small diyas 29,000 21,000 10,500
No. of medium diyas 9,000 10,500 4,000
No. of large diyas 7,000 3,500 500
Small Medium Large
Total Diyas
60,500 23,500 11,000
Quantity of oil used in 2,420 1,904 1,782
Diyas on commercial
Total quantity of oil used in ~6,100
diyas on commercial places
Amount of oil used in India ~35,00,46,100
in Diyas on Diwali
 final answer
The estimated amount
of oil used in diyas
on Diwali in India is
approximately 35 crore litre
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