Diwali comes alive on route 24

AUCKLAND, Yesterday: Starting today, you can hop on the route 24 bus through Sandringham to the city centre and join Auckland’s Indian community in celebrating Diwali, with all its vibrant colours and joy.

Graphic artists Shiv Narandas and Jaishree (Jai) Pancha collaborated with Auckland Transport (AT) to create a Bollywood-inspired bus, offering passengers an authentic taste of Indian culture and the spirit of Diwali.

“Buses are a great metaphor for Auckland’s culture. Many people from different walks of life come together to share a journey,” says Shiv.

“Our job was to elevate this journey by designing a bus with Diwali and Indian culture in mind, giving riders an authentic experience into the vibrant and playful nature of Diwali,” adds Jai.

“The bus design feels like a cultural mash-up, with swirling patterns and dramatic type creating a sense of motion while also honouring the working-class artistry of India’s highways.” – Shiv Narandas

Shiv and Jai, inspired by Diwali’s themes of light, celebration, and India’s cultural richness, teamed up with Creative@AT and cultural advisors (including mums, dads, aunties, uncles, and cousins) to craft a design that celebrates Auckland’s Indian community and multicultural spirit.

Their design, ‘Once Upon a time in Bollywood,’ captures Bollywood’s dramatic flair and the folk-art style of Indian truck decoration, blending tradition with a modern twist.

“The bus design feels like a cultural mash-up, with swirling patterns and dramatic type creating a sense of motion while also honouring the working-class artistry of India’s highways,” says Shiv.

Pragati Vasisht, AT India Connect Network leader, played a pivotal role, ensuring the artwork’s cultural resonance with the community. Fluent in Hindi, she also helped with translations.

“Shubh Deepavali written शुभ दीपावली with prominence on the outside of the bus, essentially translates as ‘wishing you an auspicious Diwali’ and we’re really grateful to Pragati for her support and cultural blessing for this beautiful work” says Chris Swift, Creative Director, Creative@AT.