Marking 40 years of themed celebrations, a new project brings together two of the city’s most enduring icons—the yellow Ambassador cab and its grandest festival.
Kolkata has always been a city of symbols. Some fade away, some reinvent themselves, but all remain stitched into its memory. Few embody that spirit as strongly as the yellow Ambassador taxi and the extravaganza of Durga Puja. This year, in a project titled “Cholte Cholte 40,” the two come together to celebrate not just nostalgia but also a remarkable journey of transformation.
The Ambassador: More Than Just a Car
For nearly half a century, the Ambassador was Kolkata’s lifeline. Introduced in the 1950s, the sturdy Hindustan Motors sedan soon became the default taxi, its bright yellow coat blending into the rhythm of the city.
From office commutes in the morning rush, to ferrying newlyweds after a wedding, to squeezing families in during Puja nights—the Ambassador was always there. With its roomy backseat and instantly recognizable curves, it wasn’t just transport; it was part of the city’s personality.
Today, as app-based cabs and modern vehicles dominate the streets, the number of yellow Ambassadors has dwindled dramatically. Yet, in Kolkata’s collective memory, the taxi continues to survive as a symbol of resilience and nostalgia.
Durga Puja, meanwhile, has grown into something far larger than a festival. Over the last 40 years, themed pujas have turned Kolkata into an open-air art gallery each autumn, blending tradition with innovation. What began in the 1980s as a bold experiment in creativity has become a defining feature of the city’s culture, one that even UNESCO acknowledged by including it in the list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Cholte Cholte 40 marks this four-decade journey by weaving in the Ambassador cab—an icon that, much like the festival, has carried Kolkata through time. The pairing feels natural. Both represent continuity and change: one once ruled the roads, the other continues to rule the city’s imagination.
For Kolkatans, the nostalgia is instant. Who doesn’t remember piling into a yellow taxi with friends or family, packed tightly in the back seat, chasing pandals late into the night? The cab was more than a ride; it was part of the Puja adventure itself. Now, by placing it at the heart of the celebrations, the city pays tribute to its own lived history.
Ultimately, Cholte Cholte 40 is not only about celebrating the past. It is about how Kolkata chooses to tell its story—by embracing change without discarding memory, by keeping alive the symbols that define it, and by turning even an old taxi into a work of art.
Also Read: Here’s Why Durga Puja 2025 is Something You Shouldn’t Miss
Factfile: 40 Years of Themed Durga Puja
- 1980s: First experiments with theme-based pandals begin.
- 1990s: Theme Puja gains popularity across neighborhoods, drawing large crowds.
- 2000s: Themes expand to include global issues, social messages, and avant-garde art.
- 2010s: Durga Puja becomes a global cultural phenomenon, attracting tourists worldwide.
- 2021: UNESCO recognises Kolkata’s Durga Puja as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
- 2025:Cholte Cholte 40 celebrates 40 years of themed celebrations with the yellow Ambassador at its heart.
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