New Zealanders accessing ATM machines of ANZ Bank at select locations around the country will notice a discernible difference.
These ATMs have been specially designed with ‘Shubh Deepavali’ (Happy and Auspicious Diwali) greeting customers on the on-going Diwali festivities at major cities and towns. The actual Diwali Day falls this year on October 23.
The pattern is supported by handcrafted typography that reads, ‘Shubh Deepavali’ (Happy and Auspicious Deepavali’).
ANZ New Zealand has commissioned special themed frontages at 11 locations, which account for a large number of people of Indian origin.
At a special launch function held at the Bank’s branch at 205, Queen Street (Central Business District) on October 3, ANZ Indian Segment Head Sunil Kaushal said that the ‘Diwali theme’ reflected the Bank’s engagement with the Indian community.
“Diwali is widely celebrated in New Zealand with people of all ethnic groups joining in the festivities. We have designed these special frontages to express our greetings to those marking Diwali,” he said.
Changing frontages
He said that the Bank would replace these frontages with other themes to commemorate festivals of other ethnic groups, such as the Chinese.
ANZ Head of Corporate Affairs Peter Parussini said that the bank introduced the idea of themed ATMs earlier this year for Matariki, the Maori New Year.
“We want to do more to celebrate other cultures and groups that contribute to our company’s and New Zealand’s diversity. We will also look to create designs to celebrate Chinese New Year and Gay and Lesbian Pride,” he said.
ANZ has five staff affinity groups including Indian, Māori and Pasifika, Asian, Pride and Flexible Working Parents, encouraging them to be themselves at work.
“ANZ’s Indian Networking Group will host staff Diwali events in Auckland and Wellington this month, as well as customer events across the country. ANZ will once again sponsor the Waitakere Diwali Festival due to be held on October 18, 2014 at Trusts Stadium in Henderson,” Mr Parussini said.
“We want to celebrate all the great people we have working at ANZ, and the Diwali-themed ATMs are part of that. We are proud of our diversity which we think makes us a stronger company,” he added.
Indian artist and designer Tanmay Desai created the ATM Diwali frontages.
He said that the design focused on the Lotus – the chosen flower of Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity and an integral part of many Indian patterns.
“I have used an abstract Lotus pattern to form the basis of the design along with koru shapes to symbolise the harmonious merging of our cultures,” he said.
Ratna Venkat invoking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi
Befitting dance
Auckland based professional dancer Ratna Venkat presented a dance number in Kuchipudi style befitting the occasion.
The dance was a blend of facial expressions and fast, rhythmic footwork, while the song was in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, revered by Hindus as the Bestower of Wealth and Prosperity.
Mr Kaushal said that the dance item was special, since it was appropriately held inside a Bank, which is considered to be the Abode of Goddess Lakshmi.
“Ratna is the devotee in this number, requesting the Goddess to come and bless everyone with success, wealth and good health,” he said.
Select locations
Among the locations where the special ANZ ATM Diwali frontages can be found are
205 Queen Street; Auckland City, Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill; 1 Great South Road, Manukau; 166-174 Great South Road, Manurewa; 320-336 Great South Road, Otahuhu;
527-529 Victoria Street, Hamilton; 1 Grey Street, Tauranga; Jellicoe Street, Te Puke; 188 Lambton Quay, Wellington; 22 Willis Street, Wellington; and 97 Riccarton Street, Christchurch
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