Driver’s decorations take spirit of Hindu light festival on the road
Back in India, Diwali is when Bankim Patel decks his home with glittering lights, candles and diyas (lamps) and hosts hundreds of visitors with yummy snacks and food.
In Auckland, the Ola driver will be decorating and lighting up his car and plans to share the spirit of the Hindu festival of lights with his rides.
This year’s Auckland Diwali Festival is in Aotea Square this weekend.
Patel, 41, whose family came to New Zealand from Gujarat 17 years ago, is one of hundreds of Ola drivers who will set their cars aglow and play Indian music during the festival.
“I cannot invite everyone to my house, but I can take the celebration and spirit of Diwali to each and every one of my passengers,” said Patel, a father of three girls aged 5 to 14.
“It’s a great way to share my culture, and I will offer them treats like jalebi and ladoo, and also Indian sweets, just like how I’d host them in my home.”
Also referred to as Deepavali, Diwali is a five-day Hindu festival of lights. Families light lamps, candles and fireworks to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
The Auckland Diwali Festival, held annually since 2002, was set up to raise public awareness of Indian culture and acknowledge the contribution of Indian communities here.
More than 57,000 attended the event last year, and it is one of the city’s largest cultural festivals.
Patel will be lighting his car interiors with glowing lights, which will be synchronised to festive Indian music.
“I hope the lights act as a conversation starter, and also it will be a blessing for passengers to overcome darkness and evil,” he said.
Brian Dewil, the country manager of the Indian-founded rideshare company Ola New Zealand, said the Diwali festival provided an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of its driver community and the company’s heritage.
“Ola has more than 7000 drivers . . . who come from a diverse range of cultural and religious backgrounds,” Dewil said.
“Offering our drivers the opportunity to light up their cars, for what is one of the most important festivals of the year for many of them, reflects that.”