DTDC turns logistics fleet into cultural icons at Hornbill Festival

DTDC Express Ltd., one of India’s first homegrown multinational logistics companies, unveiled a powerful cultural initiative at the recently concluded Hornbill Festival 2025 in Nagaland, using its extensive delivery network to bring India’s lesser-known cultural stories into the national spotlight. 

At the heart of the initiative was the Nagaland Fleet, a transformation of DTDC delivery trucks into moving cultural canvases. Created in collaboration with artists from Nagaland’s 17 tribes, the fleet showcased ‘Woven in Diversity’— artworks reflecting the state’s rich heritage, craftsmanship, and collective identity. Following the festival, these trucks are now travelling across India, carrying with them stories that have long remained regionally rooted but nationally unseen. 

The Hornbill Festival, celebrated annually, brings together Nagaland’s tribes, traditions, and artistic expressions. Despite its cultural significance, much of this heritage has remained unfamiliar to audiences beyond the region. Through the Nagaland Fleet, DTDC used its scale and reach to take these stories beyond the festival grounds and across state borders. 

Rahul Alam, one of the most prominent visual artists from the Sylheti Tribe, expressed, “There is very little awareness of Naga art worldwide, and even within India, it rarely appears in searches for ‘folk art of India.’ Our art is deeply rooted in motifs, symbolism, wood carving, and craftsmanship rather than realism. It reflects the unity and shared identity of our tribes. That’s why this initiative is so meaningful; it highlights authentic Naga art. I’m grateful to DTDC for providing us with this platform and helping our art reach a wider audience.” 

A short film documenting the creation of the Nagaland Fleet captured the artistic process and the stories behind the artwork, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the people and traditions represented on the trucks. 

Abhishek Chakraborty, CEO, DTDC Express Ltd., said, “I have always believed that our festivals uniquely define us as Indians. They connect us across distances and generations and keep our traditions alive. The Hornbill Festival reflects this spirit by bringing together the many tribes of Nagaland, each with its own stories, art and identity. Through the Naga Fleet, we are proud to help these stories travel across the country.” 

Neha Bagchi, Head of Marketing, DTDC Express Ltd., added, “DTDC is made in India and made of India. Every Indian has a DTDC story, and in many ways, DTDC stands for every Indian’s story. ‘Har Tyohhar Mein Aapke Saath’ is our way of showing up wherever India celebrates, carrying aspirations, emotions, and identities across cities, states, and borders. By taking Nagaland’s art onto our trucks, we are ensuring that the spirit of one region can travel across the country and to the world.”