Haal Khata

Haal Khata is a festival celebrated by Bengali shopkeepers and traders on Pahela Baishakh (the first day of the Bengali Calendar) by opening a new ledger.[1]

History

Mughal emperor Akbar established a new calendar based on the old Bengali calendar in 1584 to ease taxation. The Mughals "Halkhata Mahurat" to collect back taxes and from this the tradition of Haal Khata originated.[2] Haal Khata is Bengali tradition that is over 430 years old. Haal means updating and Khata means ledger.[2]

Celebrations

On the first day of the Bengali year, traders close old ledgers and open a new ledger for the new year.[3][4] Customers invited to settle old debts.[5] The event is marked by as special Puja by the Hindu traders & shop keepers.[6] Seeking to improve the relationship between traders and customers, traders give sweets, snacks, or gifts to their customers.[7] The festival is celebrated in Bangladesh and West Bengal, and Tripura, India.[7] It is believed to bring good luck to business.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. 1 2 "The Financial Express | Financial Online News portal". The Financial Express Online Version. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  3. ↑ "Bengal welcomes new year with Rabindra Sangeet, Bar Pujo". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  4. ↑ "Flyover blamed for Baisakh sale dip - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  5. ↑ "Rich in Diversity: India rings in 12 or more New Years in a calendar year - Free Press Journal". www.freepressjournal.in. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  6. ↑ Studio, Alienleaf. "Bengali new year celebrated with fervour in Tripura, Assam | The Shillong Times". www.theshillongtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  7. 1 2 "HAL KHATA". The Daily Star. 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  8. ↑ "Bengali New Year celebrated in India's Tripura". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
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