Made in China for Calcutta sky - Silent lanterns light up festival

Chinese sky lanterns at Deshbandhu Park in Shyambazar on Friday evening.
Pictures by Bishwarup Dutta

Sudeshna Banerjee, TT, 28 October 2016:  Salt Lake to Kidderpore, Bagbazar to Behala, sky lanterns or phanush made in China are the toast of every fireworks stall in the city.

The lanterns come in packets of five, priced at Rs 30-40.

"With the confusion over the ban on chocolate bombs we are not stocking high decibel crackers. So, we are pushing this product to customers on the lookout for something new," a seller who has set up shop in the Jodhpur Park market area said. "They are far cheaper than most aerial fireworks."

Such is the mass appeal that events are being organised in free public places inviting people to watch the release of these lanterns.

While one such is scheduled for Sunday evening at Vivekananda Park, organised by Calcutta Instagrammers and Streets of Calcutta, another was held at Deshbandhu Park on Friday evening.

"This is our first phanush initiative. We want to counter the sound pollution caused by crackers during Diwali by turning the attention of youths to sky lanterns. They are soothing to look at and are safer," said Tarun Dey, an amateur photographer who mooted the idea. "Interest in phanush is reviving as it is being sold ready-made and is cheap. Today's kids lack the patience to make their own phanush like our father's generation did," said Subhas Das, another organiser.

Banners with the slogan " Dushone noy, darshan-ey (Against pollution, for viewing)" were put up in north Calcutta, announcing the event. Around 250 sky lanterns were bought and the people gathered were invited to set them on flight, under the watch of East Calcutta Bharat Scouts and Guides, causing a scurry to get a phanush and resulting in scenes of jubilation as the illuminated lanterns got airborne.

"We saw phanush in our childhood. It's great to get our children to see them too," said Shila Bhattacharya, a homemaker from Raja Dinendra Street. The excitement among the kids was infectious. Shila's daughter, little Subhashree, would not stop jumping once her lantern set off. "Parachutes on fire," exclaimed Rupam Banerjee, 7, who had never seen a phanush before.