DIWALI Festival of Lights Silver Coin 20$ Canada 2016

Inspired by the elaborate patterns of Indian textiles, ornamentation and mandalas, the reverse design by Canadian artist Sarindar Dhaliwal presents a visually stunning celebration of Diwali as a cherished multicultural tradition in several communities across Canada. The outermost ring offers a Canadian twist on the patterned inlay that famously adorns the Taj Mahal, using intricately engraved trilliums and Pacific dogwood blossoms to represent Canada's largest Indo-Canadian populations in Toronto, Ont., and Vancouver, B.C. Alongside these provincial floral emblems is Canada's own iconic national symbol, the maple leaf, which reflects a spirit of inclusion and the thriving cultural diversity that defines this nation. Symbols from the Hindu, Sikh and Jain faiths form a series of rings that frame the centre, where the silvery shine of the engraved clay lamp (diya) poignantly captures the luminous essence of this ancient tradition known as the Festival of Lights. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.