Lighting up the skies: The 101-Year legacy of Beadon Street’s Fanush Utsav

In a quiet corner of north Kolkata’s Beadon Street, the night sky glows with a century-old tradition every Kali Puja. The Dutt family of Bholanath Dham has kept alive the Fanush Utsav — a heritage of crafting and flying handmade sky lanterns — for over 101 years. “This all began in 1925,” said Ajoy Dutt, the 74-year-old custodian of the family’s fanush legacy. “My father, Jadavlal Dutt, started it with the neighbourhood, and since then, we’ve been lighting up the sky every year.”

A tradition that floats beyond time

What started as a family ritual has grown into a cultural celebration that now draws curious onlookers and heritage enthusiasts. Each lantern, or fanush, is made from delicate paper and cloth, designed with themes that blend nostalgia, art, and social reflection. “This year, one of our special fanush was dedicated to Operation Sindoor,” Ajoy shared. “Another honoured cartoonist Narayan Debnath, the creator of Bantul the Great and other beloved comics. We even had one on Meyebela — to remind people of how little girls are often neglected in society, especially in rural areas.” Over the decades, the themes have evolved to celebrate Bengal’s cultural icons and address social issues, from tributes to filmmaker Satyajit Ray to creative nods to global heritage, like Egyptian pyramids symbolising timeless artistry.

The craft of patience and passion

Making a fanush is a laborious process that demands patience and precision. “Preparing a fanush isn’t difficult,” Dutt explained, “but what’s challenging is to remain patient.” The materials are simple — paper, cloth, glue, and wire — yet the result is extraordinary. Each large lantern takes nearly 20 hours to complete and requires perfect balance to rise steadily into the air. What makes this tradition unique is that every design is conceptualised afresh each year.

“I never plan with a script,” Ajoy said with a smile. “Ideas come to me naturally. I’ve always believed in creating something new every year — something that carries meaning.”

A sky full of stories

On the evening of Kali Puja, the Dutt family’s courtyard near Hedua transforms into a festival ground. Neighbours, friends, and children gather to watch the fanush take flight. The air fills with laughter, awe, and that familiar Kolkata chaos — a perfect reflection of the city’s spirit. Each lantern, as it rises, carries with it a story — of heritage, of imagination, of a century-long tradition passed through generations. “With a spacious thakurdalan, it’s easier for me to make fanush and host the event here,” Ajoy said. “This has always been a family effort.”

Keeping the flame alive

Now retired, Dutt continues to oversee the festival with the same enthusiasm. Though age has slowed him down, his commitment to preserving Kolkata’s fanush heritage remains unwavering.

“This is my passion,” he said. “It keeps alive a piece of the city’s cultural identity — one that’s slowly disappearing but still finds its way to the sky each year.” In an age of ready-made lanterns and fading traditions, the Dutt Bari Fanush Utsav stands as a glowing reminder of Kolkata’s creative resilience. As hundreds gather to watch the night sky bloom with handmade light, Beadon Street proves once again — some flames never go out; they simply rise higher.