Bananniversaire...

''POTA'' or really P.o.t.A: Planet of the Apes! 

DUH...

Makes me rather think of THIS:

Thanks, Josh Blue!

And FB...

+++

Reminder...

What Glitters Can Be Luculent - 

But Isn't Necessarily Luminous

Case in point:

In a nation that is rife with such fairs and festivals 

in astronomical numbers such as to make one 

lose complete track of time - and more - 

especially in the hellish season of winter,

The ''Festival of Lights'' comes into the picture  

fairly late and somewhat under-publicized as well... 

That is because it caters to a most particular 

as partial crowd -  and yet, it is a diverse crowd too 

which includes the Sikh, Hindu and Jain... 

One could jest that the Jedi belong in there, as well:

for, surely, George Lucas has found much 

to inspire him in this, here...

For it certainly wasn't just buddhism 

that did it for George - no, sir...

But that is -of course- another story.

The craftmanship of the above collectible

has got to be lauded, certainly - 

as it strives to combine elements 

from every culture it is to touch the hearts of.

There is a maple leaf there, after all, 

with, at its center, a diya 

which is a clay lamp 

symbolic of the diwali festivities.

As described on the website itself, these are 

''key central elements that illustrate 

the blending of multiple cultures'' 

indeed.

The descriptive text is even more laudable,

than the coin itself, for us, 

as it continues to put the emphasis 

on that all-important aspect 

as it makes mention of the flame too:

''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'' - no less!

And, as you know, reflecting light 

as radiating it 

are two very important things for us here...

We were captivated 

by the words, rather than the coin 

or the festival itself...

The Festival of Lights, 

also known as Diwali 

is about one thing, above all: 

the celebration of good triumphing over evil. 

That is the unquestionable unifying trait 

binding this tradition in each and all of 

the cultures mentioned and omitted here.

''Every faith has its own Diwali legends''

says the text found accompanying this 

sales pitch for a gold coin here...

It is for ''an incredible diverse ethno-social group'' 

which celebrates the Diwali in Canada 

that such a coin was crafted...

Is it coincidence that the obverse art is by a Canadian

while the reverse art is by a true Diwali ''reveller''...?

Perhaps - does it matter anyways?

That the Diwali is such a big deal in Canada now 

underlines quite spectacularly the fact 

that this poor confused nation 

has reached a peak in its self-identity crisis;

it truly is a ''cultural mosaic'' 

with all sorts of pieces glued together 

much like a crazy quilt is thrown together in haste

by a senile granny without much wits left... 

And so it is now -

and so it has come to this: 

Happy Diwali Canada

:-!

now please don't tell us 
this wasn't clear enough...