Motorcycling in the Himalayas has become one of India’s most popular adventure pursuits, with riders taking on the challenging terrains of Manali and Leh-Ladakh each year. While the experience is thrilling, the risks are real – unpredictable weather, rugged roads, and long stretches without immediate medical support. For many riders, especially those renting bikes locally, basic first-aid preparedness is often overlooked. To address this gap, Hero MotoCorp introduced Prayers for Safety, an innovative solution conceptualised by Saatchi & Saatchi India.
Faith Meets First Aid: Hero’s Ingenious Prayer Flags
This initiative reimagined the iconic Tibetan prayer flags as portable first-aid kits for bikers. Long regarded as symbols of protection and well-being, these prayer flags were transformed into a functional safety solution that riders can carry with them throughout their journey.
Across the Himalayan region, bikers traditionally tie prayer flags to their handlebars as a gesture of belief and protection. Inspired by this deeply rooted cultural insight, the initiative blends faith with preparedness – turning an age-old symbol into something both meaningful and practical for riders navigating remote terrains.
With the aim of making every ride safer, this initiative was rolled out across key biking hubs in Manali and Leh-Ladakh, with kits made available through bike rental points, bikers’ cafés, and custom-designed flag dispensers. By embedding safety into an existing riding ritual, Hero MotoCorp reinforced its commitment to every rider’s well-being, encouraging preparedness on journeys where access to immediate medical help is limited.
Speaking about the activation, Aashish Midha, Head of Marketing, Hero MotoCorp Ltd., said, “At Hero MotoCorp, rider safety is not an afterthought – it’s a fundamental part of who we are and what we stand for. As the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, we recognize that true mobility means ensuring every rider, every family and every community returns home safely. We believe rider safety is a shared responsibility, especially in environments where basic first aid or medical help is not easily accessible. Prayers for Safety reflects our intent to go beyond business revenue by addressing real on-ground challenges through simple, culturally rooted solutions.”
Kartik Smetacek, Chief Creative Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi India, added, “This was one of those ideas that was as useful as it was clever. Not just to identify the problem, but to solve for it in such a simple, elegant way – by transforming something symbolic into something practical. Huge credit to our wonderful clients at Hero MotoCorp for backing the idea and rolling it out at scale.”
