Haal Khata (Bengali: হাল খাতা) is a festival celebrated by Bengali merchants, shopkeepers and traders on Poila Boisakh (the first day of the Bengali Calendar) by opening a new ledger.[1]
History
editMughal emperor Akbar established a new calendar based on the old solar Bengali calendar in 1584 to ease taxation. The Mughals used "Halkhata Mahurat" to collect taxes and the tradition of Haal Khata is believed to be originated from this.[2] Haal Khata is a Bengali tradition that is over 430 years old. Haal means updating and Khata means ledger.[2]
Celebrations
editOn the first day of the Bengali year, traders close old ledgers and open a new ledger for the new year.[3][4] Customers are invited to settle old debts and start fresh.[5] On this day, Muslim businessmen start anew by writing 'Bismillah' or 'Elahi Bharsa' in their new account books and marks the event by Haal Khata dawat.[6] The event is marked by a special Puja by the Hindu traders & shopkeepers.[7] Seeking to improve their relationship with customers, traders give sweets, snacks, or gifts to them.[8] The festival is celebrated in Bangladesh and West Bengal, Assam's Barak Valley and Tripura of India.[8] It is believed to bring good luck to the business.[9]
References
edit- ^ Preetha Banerjee & Abhro Banerjee (15 April 2015). "Time for 'haal khata', new clothes and everything Bengali - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ a b "The Financial Express | Financial Online News portal". The Financial Express Online Version. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Bengal welcomes new year with Rabindra Sangeet's, Bar Pujo". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Flyover blamed for Baisakh sale dip - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Rich in Diversity: India rings in 12 or more New Years in a calendar year - Free Press Journal". www.freepressjournal.in. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "নতুন বছর, হালখাতা ও মুসলিম ঐতিহ্য". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 12 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Studio, Alienleaf. "Bengali new year celebrated with fervour in ripura, Assam | The Shillong Times". www.theshillongtimes.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ a b "HAL KHATA". The Daily Star. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Bengali New Year celebrated in India's Tripura". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
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