2015 25c Diwali: Festival of Lights - Pure Gold Coin

Diwali is the most important holiday in India. It’s a New Year’s celebration that is also known as the “Festival of Lights,” and is celebrated by millions of people every year. The notion of light triumphing over dark is incredibly symbolic; so universal that it has inspired cultures around the world for centuries. But Diwali is more than a single flame; it fills homes, streets—and hearts!—with light. Diwali revellers are an incredibly diverse ethno-cultural group. Hindu, Sikh, Jain… every faith has its own Diwali legends, but the unifying thread is always a celebration of good triumphing over evil. Mintage 10,000. HST/GST exempt.

The reverse design by Canadian artist Sarindar Dhaliwal brings together East and West in this uplifting design inspired by the Ashoka Chakra (wheel of the law) that appears on the national flag of India. A maple leaf and diya (clay lamp) are key central elements that illustrate the blending of multiple cultures as Canada has become a home for Diwali celebrations. The flame at the centre of the design reflects the essence of the Festival of Lights, its light radiating outwards like spokes on a wheel that are framed by a ring of maple leaves.