Sunday, 3 September 2017

566) Diwali Festival 2017:  1 Dollar 1 oz. Silver Coin issued by the Perth Mint, Australia on behalf of Tuvalu Islands:

566) Diwali Festival 2017:  1 Dollar 1 oz. Silver Coin issued by the Perth Mint, Australia on behalf of Tuvalu Islands:

 The Perth Mint in conjunction with the South Pacific Island of Tuvalu has released a 1 ounce silver coin honouring the ancient Hindu "Festival of Lights" familiarly known as Diwali. 

Diwali is an ancient Hindu "Festival of Lights".

It is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the globe. It is considered to be one of the happiest holidays in India & Nepal. 

The main theme of the festival is the triumph of light over darkness, goodness over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. 

 The festival is held over a period of five days in honour of  the Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth, good fortune and joy. Her symbol id gold, as such, gold - coins, ornaments etc - are the focus of the joyous gift-giving that takes place during the course of this festival.
The Reverse of the $1 silver coin depicting the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, against a backdrop of a young dancer performing a joyous dance in celebration of the festival of Diwali

 The Reverse of the  $1 Silver 1oz. coin depicts a coloured representation of the four armed Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth, health, fortune and prosperity, seated  on a white lotus flower with gold coins pouring out of her hands - symbolising material and spiritual wealth.

The Lotus represents a range of desirable attributes, including birth, purity of mind and spiritual perfection. The Goddess Lakshmi is frequently depicted as seated on a Lotus.

Her lower left hand is held palm outward, fingers pointing upward, in a symbolic position or "mudra" called "abhaya mudra", symbolising protection and fearlessness.

Her lower right hand is palm outward with the fingers pointing down, in the "varada mudra" (favourable mudra) which signifies charity, giving and compassion. The varada mudra is nearly always shown made with the left hand by a revered figure devoted to human salvation from greed, anger and delusion. With this hand she is also "sprinkling" gold coins onto a golden platter. In each of her hands, she holds a pink lotus flower - pink being the most divine colour for the lotus and one associated with the Gods.

 Included in the design is the greeting "Happy Diwali" in a stylised calligraphic style inspired by the Indian Devanagri script and the Perth Mint "P" mint mark.
                            The Obverse of the $1 Silver coin

The Obverse of the  $1 Silver 1oz. coin shows an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley whose initials "IRB" appear below the Queen's neck. On the outer periphery are the inscriptions -  the denominational value of the coin "1 Dollar" and the year of issue "2017" and the metallic composition & weight "1 Oz" & "9999 Ag". The country name "TUVALU" is mentioned on the lower right periphery.

 This coin has been issued as legal tender, under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu

 The specifications of the coin are:
Denomination: AUD $1; Metallic Composition: 1 Troy oz. of 99.99% fineness, Pure Silver; Weight: 31.107 grams; Diameter: 40.6 mm; Thickness: 4.0 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated; Mintage Limit: 5,000 pieces; Presentation Packaging; Numbered certificate; Vivid Colour Design;  Designer: Jennifer McKenna.
The coin is housed in a floating frame for display, which displays both sides of the coin. The case is packaged within a beautifully illustrated colourful shipper and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
                        The elegant box in which the coin is shipped

The Hindu Festival of “Diwali” or “Deepawali” (“Deepawali” means a “Necklace of Lamps or Lights”):

“Diwali” or “Deepawali” is one of the most significant Hindu Festivals which celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It spans a total of five days every autumn and is also the beginning of the New Year for the Hindu community.

As per the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the eve of or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November.


Break-up of the five days of celebration of the Diwali Festival:

The first day of the festival is called “Dhanteras”  the second day  is called “Naraka Chaturdasi”, the third day is the main festival – “Diwali or Deepawali”, the fourth day is called “Kartika Shuddha Padyami” and the last day of the festival is called “Bhai Dooj”.

“Dhanteras”: is one of the most important days before Diwali. On this day, people buy new clothes, brass cooking utensils and jewellery for their families.

“Naraka Chaturdasi” (or “Choti Diwali” – meaning a “lesser or smaller celebration of Diwali”): This falls on the fourteenth day of the month of Kartik and marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.

“Diwali” is celebrated on “Amavasya” – the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of “Kartik” (October/November) every year.

“Kartika Shuddha Padyami or Bali Padyami, Padwa or Varshapratipada”: This marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya and the start of the “Vikram Samvat” (the Hindu calendar) which started from the Padwa day.

“Bhai Dooj or Bhau Beej or Bhaiya Duj”: is based on the relationship of the brother and sister. On this occasion, sisters pray to God that their brothers have a long, prosperous and successful life. They perform the “Tika ceremony” (applying vermillion on the foreheads of the brothers) then in return, they get gifts from their brothers. This festival symbolises the bond between brothers and sisters.

In North India “Bhai Duj” also symbolises the return of Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman from his 14 years of exile after vanquishing Ravana.

Traditional customs:

Before the Festival, many Hindus traditionally go shopping, clean their homes, open their doors and windows, make intricate “rangolis” (“colourful aesthetically pleasing designs/patterns” on their floors to welcome guests & the New Year).

“Rangolis”: are in the nature of vibrant floor patterns traditionally made from materials such as rice powder, coloured sand and flower petals and lighted “diyas” in the hope that Goddess Lakshmi or Laxmi, (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity) will visit their homes and hearth.

In some regions of India, people play games, just as in Hindu folklore, Lord Shiva, the God of Destruction did.

On the festive main day of Diwali, families pray to the Goddess Lakshmi, dress up in their best clothes, and partake of lavish feasts and sweets, exchange gifts and light “patakhas” or “fire-crackers” as a mark of celebration.

How is Diwali celebrated:

Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit word “Deepawali”, which translates into “a necklace of lamps or lights”.

During Diwali, the flickering oil-wick “diyas” or “earthen lamps” (as the one shown on this Forever stamp below) or electric lamps/lights,  light up every nook and corner of the homes of the observers of this festival which is celebrated around the world, across continents. The underlying symbolic concept is that darkness should be expelled from every place and the observers of the Festival are led into light, which is symbolic of health, wealth, prosperity and happiness.

As a corollary/extension to this underlying symbolic concept, there is a Sanskrit “Mantra” – “Asto ma Sadgamaya, Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityormaamrit Gamaya, Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti” (which translates into English as “From Ignorance lead me to Truth; From Darkness, lead me into Light; From Death lead me into Immortality; Om Peace, Peace, Peace”).

At the  World Stamp Show held at Javits Centre, New York from 28.05.2016 to 04.06.2016, India Post show-cased a Series of elegant Special Covers one of which focussed on the concept of learning with part of the above “mantra” -  “Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya” (“From Darkness lead me into Light”)



(For a more comprehensive reading of the Special Covers showcased by India Post at the exhibition, where I have explained the themes of each day & given interesting details of USPS and Indian Stamps/Covers exhibited please visit my following post: 1) World Stamp Show New York 2016

Other essential traditions:

For the Diwali festival, Hindus go shopping for new clothes and gold ornaments which they wear at the time of performing “pujas” (“worshipping rituals”) before the Goddess Laxmi or Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity). Flowers, sweets, food are among the other essentials in which celebrations are carried out to welcome the coming New Year.

On the night of Deepawali, the “pujas” are performed for Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, everywhere in India to invoke their blessings during the coming year in the form of health, wealth, happiness and prosperity.

Importance of the Festival to Jainism & Buddhism:

For the adherents of the Jain faith too, Deepawali has a great significance, because it was on this auspicious day that Lord Mahavir, the last Jain “Tirthankar” (meaning “ Fjord builders” or “One Who Helps you to Attain Permanent “Moksha” or “Salvation” in the After-Life) had attained “Nirvana” (deep unending meditation or sleep, when the human soul leaves for its abode in the heavens) at Pavapuri. For the Jains, this Festival is known as “Deva Diwali” (For my post on Lord Mahavir, please click on the following link:Lord Mahavir: 24th & the last Tirthankar of Jainism )

In Buddhism too, this Festival has a lot of significance as Emperor Ashok had converted to Buddhism on this day and took on a lifetime’s mission of non-violence, peace and harmony among all nations. (For my post on Lord Buddha, please click on the following link: 1) 2550 years of Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha: Commemorative stamps issued by India Post  )

 The US Postal Service too had issued a "Forever Stamp" on 05.10.2016 depicting a lighted "diya" (earthen Oil lamp) details of which can be accessed at the following link on this blog - US Postal Service (USPS) Issues: Forever Stamps: Celebrating the Festival of Diwali with Forever Stamps








Links to Posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this blog:

 1) Bank of Papua New Guinea: 36th Anniversary Celebrations (1973-2008): A Commemorative Uncirulated Coin Set consisting of a 2 Kina Banknote & a 2 Kina Coin

2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence 

 3) Currency & Coinage of the Soloman Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

 6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017

17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti 

 18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017

 19) The Collared Lory: National Bird of Fiji: featured on a $1 Titanium Coin and a $2 Sterling silver coin, minted by Pobjoy Mint UK 



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