They are believed to bring good fortune and signify auspicious and festive occasions. In Hinduism, most festivals are celebrated on auspicious days. Twelve are considered to be especially auspicious and holy. The ceremony took place on a day deemed to be auspicious by priests. The Lighting of the Auspicious Lamp ceremony was performed to open the conference. Made on festive and auspicious occasions, they are given to visiting relatives. Maghe Sankranti is regarded as marking the beginning of an auspicious phase in Nepalese culture. The Ashtamangala are a set of eight auspicious symbols. The duality of Shiva's fearful and auspicious attributes appears in contrasted names. Alahamady, the sign of a highly auspicious birth according to popular belief. There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor representing the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. In Jainism, the Ashtamangala are a set of eight auspicious symbols. Elizabeth I consulted her astrologer, John Dee, before deciding on an auspicious date. It is one of the Ashtamangala (eight auspicious symbols) found in Jainism. This Nirmalya darshanam is known as Kani, which is very auspicious.