The art of decorating a truck like a wife! Learn about the multi-billion dollar world of ‘Truck Art’

While traveling on the Indian highways, we come across more than one beautiful, colorful and decorated truck. From a distance, these trucks, looking shabby from above, look like moving works of art. For Indian drivers, their truck is not just a means of transporting goods, it is their ‘second home’ or ‘temple’. From this feeling, ‘Truck Art’ is born, that is, a huge industry worth crores of rupees that decorates the truck ‘like a husband’!

No truck, This is the driver’s house!

A truck driver spends approximately 250-300 days a year away from home, on the road. So he considers his truck as his home. Just like we decorate our homes, drivers spend lakhs of rupees to decorate their trucks. This art has a special place in Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. It is a tradition here to have beautiful wood carvings, colorful mirrors, attractive lighting and idols or photos of different gods and goddesses inside and outside the truck cabin.

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A fusion of culture and folk art

Dark colors used in truck art e.g. Yellow, red, green and designs are symbols of India’s rich folk art. The exterior of the truck is not only emblazoned with carvings, but also has a glimpse of the regional culture. Trucks from Punjab can be seen carrying wheat grains or tractors loaded, while Rajasthani trucks can be seen with camels or forts. In Maharashtra, pictures of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Gadkila and tigers and lions are proudly drawn. Apart from this, sentimental sayings like “Mazhi Mauli”, “Mother’s Blessings” are also a part of this art.

Multi-billion industry and global influence

Today, truck art is not just a hobby for drivers, it has become a huge industry. Thousands of skilled artisans, painters and carvers depend on this industry. The cost to decorate a truck ranges from thousands of rupees to a few lakhs.

Interestingly, this authentic Indian folk art has now made its mark globally. International fashion designers, famous brands and interior decorators have started using the dark colors and patterns from this truck art in their clothes and products. These designs are in great demand in the West as ‘Indo-Pop’ or ‘Desi Aesthetic’.

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In short…

Indian Truck Art is not just a splash of colors but a walking display of the drivers’ love, hard earned money and living folk art of India. This colorful canvas running through the streets has truly given Indian culture a new identity around the world.