Fanush Utsav at Bholanath Dham Dutt Bari turns 100

Kinjal Bose

Fanush or sky lantern is synonymous with Kali Puja. In majority of the Bengali households, it is a long standing tradition to light candles and fireworks at the night of Kali Puja and Diwali. Of course nowadays decorating the balcony with China-made decoration lights is commonplace. However, lighting candles is still very much in practice.

This year the fanush utsav at Bholanath Dham Dutt Bari of 33/2, Beadon Street, in north Calcutta will be turning 100 years. The tradition started in 1925 when the Dutt family moved into this house. Earlier, the family resided at Shovabazar and flying sky lantern was not a regular affair there. But ever since moving into the Beadon Street residence, flying sky lanterns has gradually evolved into an annual affair in the afternoon of Kali Puja. It is worth mentioning at this point that the Dutt family celebrates both Durga Puja and Kali Puja with equal pomp and grandeur.

The house has a large courtyard which makes easy to fly fanush. According to Ajoy Dutt, a family member, he has witnessed his elder uncle and his father preparing sky lanterns when he was very young. This provided him with the necessary impetus and enthusiasm to start preparing sky lanterns. Dutt was only 10-years-old when he prepared his first fanush. He recalled that during those days, fanush were prepared at the first floor balcony of their house. He learnt the art of preparing fanush from his father Jadavlal Dutt. For the last six decades, Dutt has been making sky lanterns, and according to him, since the last twenty years this age old tradition has slowly transformed into an utsav or festival.

Fanush first came to Calcutta during the middle of the nineteenth century through the Europeans. Later it became a part of the Babu culture. At that time fanush were professionally prepared. Around 1916 to 1920, a gentleman named Govinda Chandra Dey of Dorjipara was the first to prepare a fanush here in Calcutta.

Dutt says that preparing fanush is not so difficult but what is challenging is to remain patient. Preparing fanush requires a big area which nowadays is hard to find. Asked how much time it requires for preparing a standard size fanush, the prompt answer is around 18 to 20 hours. There lies one’s patience. He added that a special type of paper is also required to make the fanush which needs to be imported. The material cost has also been rising with the passage of time.

This year, the Dutt family will be celebrating a 100 years since the fanush utsav was first held in 1925. To commemorate this special milestone, Dutt plans to fly about two dozen fanush. Asked if there is any theme for the special event, he replied that he intends to portray the works of great personalities who have attained 100 years during this time through fanush.

Dutt said that in the earlier days, one could rarely spot any sky lanterns. However, that has changed with time as more and more people are seen taking interest in fanush. Even during the time of buying fireworks from the market on the occasion of Kali Puja, many people are seen opting for fanush which shows that the people has become more interested in them.

Dutt remarked that on the afternoon of Kali Puja, his courtyard becomes crowded with enthusiasts and photographers with high-end cameras and getting space to stand becomes almost impossible. He further said he was giving lessons in fanush to the young enthusiasts so that people can carry on with this tradition in the next generation.