In India there is a festival of lights Diwali

There are several legends connected with the holiday. Vaisnavas link the beginning of Diwali festive with crowning of Prince Rama, the seventh embodiment of Vishnu. At night of his lucky inthrone throughout the country, illumination was arranged.

According to other sources, wise ruling of Rama marked freedom from spiritual darkness. Kindled lights symbolize return of humanity from darkness to light, due to legendary Prince.

In each region of India, celebration of Diwali has its own features. For several parts of country and social groups (for example, for trade associations of Western India) Diwali corresponds with the beginning of New Year. This day bargainers adjust books of accounts, tidy small shops. In the evening shops and houses are illuminated with oil-filled lightning fixtures or garlands of light bulb.

At the biggest area of India, Diwali is devoted to the Goddess of wealth and fertility Lakshmi, the spouse of God Vishnu. At home people clean up carefully, enlighten fires, because Goddess does not like darkness, apply to her with prayer, offer her milk in which coins are put, and overnight they leave doors and windows opened so that it would be easier for her to gain entry to the house.

In Southern India, in Diwali they celebrate triumph of God Krishna over demon Narakasura. In this day of victory of good over evil Indians heavily anoint themselves with coconut oil – it sanctifies them, freeing from sins, because the ceremony is considered to be equivalent to ablution in sacral Ganges.

In Eastern India, particularly in Bengal, Diwali is dedicated to worship of black Goddess Kali representing the cult of power. On this occasion, for ten days in front of images of Goddess the prayers are held, afterwards these images are doused in rivers or ponds.