Haal Khata
{{short description|Festival celebrated by Bengali}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
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Haal Khata ({{langx|bn| হালখাতা}}) 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.{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first=Preetha |last2=Banerjee |first2=Abhro |date=15 April 2015 |title=Time for ‘haal khata’, new clothes and everything Bengali - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Time-for-haal-khata-new-clothes-and-everything-Bengali/articleshow/46926641.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=1 May 2016}}
History
Mughal 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/04/12/25900/%27Halkhata%27-fades-on-economic,-technological-transformation|title=The Financial Express {{!}} Financial Online News portal|website=The Financial Express Online Version|access-date=4 May 2016}} Haal Khata is a Bengali tradition that is over 430 years old. Haal means updating and Khata means ledger.
Celebrations
On the first day of the Bengali year, traders close old ledgers and open a new ledger for the new year.{{cite magazine |title=Bengal welcomes new year with Rabindra Sangeet, Bar Pujo |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/bengal-welcomes-new-year-with-rabindra-sangeet-bar-pujo-590231-2016-04-14 |magazine=India Today |agency=PTI |date=14 April 2016 |access-date=31 March 2025}}{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Flyover-blamed-for-Baisakh-sale-dip/articleshow/51819540.cms |title=Flyover blamed for Baisakh sale dip |work=The Times of India |date=14 April 2016 |access-date=4 May 2016}} Customers are invited to settle old debts and start fresh.{{Cite news |url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/rich-in-diversity-india-rings-in-12-or-more-new-years-in-a-calendar-year/820848 |title=Rich in Diversity: India rings in 12 or more New Years in a calendar year |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/rich-in-diversity-india-rings-in-12-or-more-new-years-in-a-calendar-year/820848 |work=Free Press Journal |access-date=4 May 2016}} 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.{{cite news |title=নতুন বছর, হালখাতা ও মুসলিম ঐতিহ্য |url=https://banglanews24.com/index.php/islam/news/bd/384674.details |access-date=26 April 2024 |work=banglanews24.com |date=12 April 2015 |language=bn}} The event is marked by a special Puja by the Hindu traders & shopkeepers.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2016/04/15/bengali-new-year-celebrated-with-fervour-in-tripura-assam-2/ |title=Bengali new year celebrated with fervour in ripura, Assam |work=The Shillong Times |date=15 April 2016 |access-date=4 May 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406231353/http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2016/04/15/bengali-new-year-celebrated-with-fervour-in-tripura-assam-2/ |url-status=dead}} Seeking to improve their relationship with customers, traders give sweets, snacks, or gifts to them.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/hal-khata-18968|title=HAL KHATA|date=7 April 2014|website=The Daily Star|access-date=4 May 2016}} The festival is celebrated in Bangladesh and West Bengal, Assam's Barak Valley and Tripura of India. It is believed to bring good luck to the business.{{Cite web|url=http://bdnews24.com/neighbours/2016/04/14/bengali-new-year-celebrated-in-indias-tripura|title=Bengali New Year celebrated in India’s Tripura|website=bdnews24.com|access-date=4 May 2016}}
References
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Category:Cultural festivals in Bangladesh
Category:Festivals of Bangladeshi culture
Category:Cultural festivals in India
Category:Festivals established in the 16th century
Category:1584 establishments in Asia
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