Diwali is an ancient five day Hindu ‘festival of lights’. Celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists around the world, it is considered one of the happiest holidays in India and Nepal. The main theme of the festival is the triumph of light over darkness, goodness over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. During Diwali Ganesha is revered as the deity of intellect, the patron of arts and sciences, and remover of obstacles. He is worshipped with Lakshmi to welcome wisdom along with wealth. Ganesha is typically portrayed with the head of an elephant, a rotund belly and four arms. He is often depicted holding an axe to cut down ignorance and a lotus flower, the symbol of enlightenment, with a rat or mouse at his feet. 

DESIGN

The reverse of the 1oz silver coin features a coloured representation of Ganesha holding a lotus flower and an ornamental axe, with a mouse at his feet. The design includes the inscription ‘happy diwali’ and The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark.