North Kolkata’s century-old phanush tradition faces a festive setback

A phanush is a traditional handmade paper lantern that rises into the sky as the air inside it heats up. For generations, these glowing lanterns have been a familiar sight during Kali Puja and Diwali in north Kolkata, where the craft has been passed down through families.

Among those who have kept it alive are the Dutta family of Bholanath Dham and P K Mullick of Peary Mohan Sur Lane. This year, however, the two took different approaches. While Bholanath Dham decided against releasing its lanterns in the absence of official clearance, Mullick sent a few handmade phanush soaring from his rooftop on Sunday afternoon.

Although there was no launch at Bholanath Dham, Ajay Dutta continued to share the craft with visitors, including tourists from abroad. He demonstrated how the lanterns are made and explained the history behind the annual ritual.

Dutta's association with phanush dates back to 1962, when he released his first lantern. The craft has since passed to successive generations, with his grandsons also learning to make the delicate paper structures.

“We would have been happy to release the phanush as we do every year if we had received clearance from the concerned departments. 

Unfortunately, that did not happen. My son went to various government offices, but we could not understand which department was supposed to issue the licence to fly them,” Dutta said.

He said the family would continue making the lanterns and hoped to resume the annual release once the necessary permissions were obtained.

Mullick, meanwhile, went ahead with the ritual on a smaller scale. Releasing a few handmade lanterns from his rooftop, he said the practice was too closely associated with Bengali culture to be abandoned.

The practice of flying phanush in Kolkata is believed to have gained popularity in the early 20th century. The lantern's origins are traced to China, where hot-air lanterns were used for signalling before becoming part of festive celebrations. The practice subsequently spread across Asia and reached Bengal.

According to north Kolkata's oral history and accounts preserved by the Dey family of Darjipara, Gourishankar Dey, a mathematics professor at Scottish Church College, popularised phanush in Kolkata around 1912.

The lanterns became particularly popular during Kali Puja and Diwali in north Kolkata's old neighbourhoods. Over time, artisans experimented with different shapes, moving beyond traditional spheres and stars to create lanterns resembling footballs and other imaginative designs.

For families such as the Duttas and the Mullicks, making phanush is both an inherited skill and a festive ritual. The craft has endured even as the circumstances surrounding its celebration have changed.

This year, Bholanath Dham's lanterns remained grounded, but the family has no intention of giving up the practice. Dutta hopes to resume the annual release next Kali Puja.