Trucks in India aren't simply a way to get around. They're a mobile work of art that says much about the person behind the wheel.<br />
Trucks in India aren't simply a way to get around. They're a mobile work of art that says much about the person behind the wheel.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
The richly painted exteriors are adorned with slogans, decorations, and symbols that reveal a lot about the driver.<br />"Depending on which region they're from, you'll see Hindi, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian iconography," said photographer <a target="_blank" target="_blank">Dan Eckstein</a>, who traveled over 10,000kms of the country for his book<a target="_blank" target="_blank"> "Horn Please: The Decorated Trucks of India."</a><br />"There's also a lot of decoration that has to do with luck on the road and warning away bad omens. There's a little demon face they put on the front of the truck, or they might tie shoes to the bottom which is meant to keep away the evil eye."<br />
The richly painted exteriors are adorned with slogans, decorations, and symbols that reveal a lot about the driver.
"Depending on which region they're from, you'll see Hindi, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian iconography," said photographer Dan Eckstein, who traveled over 10,000kms of the country for his book "Horn Please: The Decorated Trucks of India."
"There's also a lot of decoration that has to do with luck on the road and warning away bad omens. There's a little demon face they put on the front of the truck, or they might tie shoes to the bottom which is meant to keep away the evil eye."
Dan Eckstein
The luminous, dream-like style of the paintings is all part of India's trademark vibrant style, says says <a target="_blank" target="_blank">Shantanu Suman</a>, graphic designer and filmmaker behind 2013 documentary <a target="_blank" target="_blank">"Horn Please," </a>which explores India's spectacular truck art tradition.<br />"India by nature is very bright -- even the spices, the food they eat, is bright," he added.<br />"If you see a Bollywood movie, all the songs and dances, everything is so colourful. And that's reflected on the trucks as well."<br />
The luminous, dream-like style of the paintings is all part of India's trademark vibrant style, says says Shantanu Suman, graphic designer and filmmaker behind 2013 documentary "Horn Please," which explores India's spectacular truck art tradition.
"India by nature is very bright -- even the spices, the food they eat, is bright," he added.
"If you see a Bollywood movie, all the songs and dances, everything is so colourful. And that's reflected on the trucks as well."
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
The beautifully intricate interior of a truck cabin.
The beautifully intricate interior of a truck cabin.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
"I think there is a big pride connection -- this is the truck driver's world, it's where they're spending all their time," said Eckstein, whose intimate and striking portraits of the drivers captured them in their pride-and-joy.
"I think there is a big pride connection -- this is the truck driver's world, it's where they're spending all their time," said Eckstein, whose intimate and striking portraits of the drivers captured them in their pride-and-joy.
Courtesy Dan Eckstein
Many of the trucks have the words "Horn Please" emblazoned on the rear, a call for drivers to honk their horns when overtaking the truck.<br />"On the road in India it's very loose -- people are weaving in and out, you have animal carts, pedestrians, cows wandering out," said Eckstein.<br />"And the horn is a really stabilizing factor in letting everyone know where everyone else is."<br />
Many of the trucks have the words "Horn Please" emblazoned on the rear, a call for drivers to honk their horns when overtaking the truck.
"On the road in India it's very loose -- people are weaving in and out, you have animal carts, pedestrians, cows wandering out," said Eckstein.
"And the horn is a really stabilizing factor in letting everyone know where everyone else is."
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
Brilliantly painted trucks in Mumbai.
Brilliantly painted trucks in Mumbai.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
"I went to this truck depot outside of town and there was about 500 trucks where people go and hang out and drink tea," said Eckstein.<br />"I was really taken by the beautiful, bright, and varied decorations."
"I went to this truck depot outside of town and there was about 500 trucks where people go and hang out and drink tea," said Eckstein.
"I was really taken by the beautiful, bright, and varied decorations."
Courtesy Dan Eckstein
Eckstein said the drivers were light-heated and chatty -- until the camera came out.<br />"They all look very serious in the photographs, but I think that's just how they tend to pose," he said.<br />"They appear quite serious and they have a lot of pride in their trucks."
Eckstein said the drivers were light-heated and chatty -- until the camera came out.
"They all look very serious in the photographs, but I think that's just how they tend to pose," he said.
"They appear quite serious and they have a lot of pride in their trucks."
Courtesy Dan Eckstein
In a nation spanning almost 4 million square kilometers, truck drivers are the ones quite literally keeping the Indian economy moving, delivering goods to rural parts of the country inaccessible by railway.
In a nation spanning almost 4 million square kilometers, truck drivers are the ones quite literally keeping the Indian economy moving, delivering goods to rural parts of the country inaccessible by railway.
Courtesy Dan Eckstein
"The drivers really do live in the truck. There's usually two or three drivers in each truck and there's usually bunk beds," said Eckstein<br />"In the cabin it's really a home away from home, and they take a lot of pride in it."
"The drivers really do live in the truck. There's usually two or three drivers in each truck and there's usually bunk beds," said Eckstein
"In the cabin it's really a home away from home, and they take a lot of pride in it."
Courtesy Dan Eckstein
"Each truck is an evolving work of art," added Eckstein.<br />"There's the initial build and painting of the truck, but as they go along they'll add different stickers or commission different paintings, or they'll make decorations, or add garlands."
"Each truck is an evolving work of art," added Eckstein.
"There's the initial build and painting of the truck, but as they go along they'll add different stickers or commission different paintings, or they'll make decorations, or add garlands."
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
The painted paneling of a truck in Jodhpur.
The painted paneling of a truck in Jodhpur.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
While drivers take great pride in their trucks, they're not the ones actually doing the painting.<br />This is the work of skilled truck painters and artists.
While drivers take great pride in their trucks, they're not the ones actually doing the painting.
This is the work of skilled truck painters and artists.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
"Truck painting is now undergoing a transformation. A lot of things that were once handpainted are now being replaced by stickers," said Suman.
"Truck painting is now undergoing a transformation. A lot of things that were once handpainted are now being replaced by stickers," said Suman.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
"Some of these truck artists who have been carrying forward this profession for geneartions, now don't want their kids to do it because they realise the hardship. They say: 'I want my kids to go to collage and work in an air-conditioned office, rather than be here in the sun painting trucks all day,'" added Suman.
"Some of these truck artists who have been carrying forward this profession for geneartions, now don't want their kids to do it because they realise the hardship. They say: 'I want my kids to go to collage and work in an air-conditioned office, rather than be here in the sun painting trucks all day,'" added Suman.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
Here, artist Raja Gharu paints the back of a truck.
Here, artist Raja Gharu paints the back of a truck.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman
From their colorful facades, to "Horn Please" slogans, Indian truck art is loud -- and proud.
From their colorful facades, to "Horn Please" slogans, Indian truck art is loud -- and proud.
Courtesy Dan Eckstein
Pimp my ride: The psychedelic world of Indian truck art

Editor’s Note: ‘The Silk Road: Past, Present, Future’ travels east to west along this ancient trade route, exploring how traditional culture, arts, and trade have developed in the 21st century. This month we explore India.

CNN  — 

If you’re going to spend 10 months of the year on the road, you’d want a pretty sweet ride.

For truckers in India, that means a kaleidoscope of colors, slogans, and intricately painted symbols that are as much about bling – as shrewd business sense.

Here, a truck isn’t just a way to get around. It’s a moving work of art reflecting the character of its driver – and a brilliant beacon for new customers.

“A better looking truck attracts more business,” says Shantanu Suman, graphic designer and filmmaker behind 2013 documentary “Horn Please,” which explores India’s spectacular truck art tradition.

“Imagine the truck is like a moving billboard. It travels from one side of the country to the other, carrying the message of the truck driver and owner.”

Home on wheels

In a nation spanning almost four million square kilometers, truck drivers are the ones quite literally keeping the Indian economy moving – delivering goods to rural parts of the country inaccessible by railway.

It’s a job which entails long months on the road, and these hefty vehicles transformed into mobile homes away from home, kitted out with bunk beds and photos of loved ones far away.

For trucks drivers in India, their vehicle is a home away from home.
For trucks drivers in India, their vehicle is a home away from home.
Dan Eckstein

“Since they’re missing their kids and wives, they like to decorate their trucks with ornaments to remind them of home,” explained Suman.

“They might adorn the cabin with bangles – things that remind them of their wives.”

Spectacular symbolism

The symbolism continues on the richly painted exterior, with images of gods and goddesses, Bollywood stars, and political logos that say much about the person behind the wheel.

“Depending on which region they’re from, you’ll see Hindi, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian iconography,” said photographer Dan Eckstein, who traveled over 10,000kms of the country for his book “Horn Please: The Decorated Trucks of India.”

“There’s also a lot of decoration that has to do with luck on the road and warning away bad omens. There’s a little demon face they put on the front of the truck, or they might tie shoes to the bottom which is meant to keep away the evil eye.”

Horn Please

Come face-to-face with the luminous rear end of one of these trucks, and you’ll also likely see the words “Horn Please” emblazoned across the back.

It’s a call for other drivers to honk their horns when overtaking the truck; a long-standing tradition on Indian roads.

But whether the tradition of truck art itself will continue, is less certain.

Truck artist Raja Gharu works his magic.
Truck artist Raja Gharu works his magic.
Courtesy Shantanu Suman

“Truck painting is now undergoing a transformation. A lot of things that were once hand painted are now being replaced by stickers,” explained Suman.

“Some of these truck artists who have been carrying forward this profession for generations, now don’t want their kids to do it because they realize the hardship. They say: ‘I want my kids to go to collage and work in an air-conditioned office, rather than be here in the sun painting trucks all day.’”

That said, it’s still a skill both artist and driver take huge pride in – and the journey isn’t over yet.