The word Dipak means flame. According to the legend, Tansen, the famous court musician of Emperor Akbar, started a palace fire when he was ordered to sing Dipak raga against his judgement. Ever since, musicians awed by the power of this masterly performance as well as fearing another disaster, have refrained from performing this raga. Painters have apparently no such worries, or confidence in such artistic super-powers, and have painted hundreds of Dipak paintings since Akbar’s time. Dipak raga is often associated with Divali, the Indian autumn festival of lights. It usually shows a pair of regal lovers, but each school treats the obligatory flame in a different way.