Kolkata’s phanush tradition was disrupted during Kali Puja after a new licence rule stopped one family’s sky-lantern release. 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. Kolkata’s phanush tradition faces uncertainty as families struggle to secure clear police and fire permissions before Kali Puja releases.