Home ›› 14 Apr 2023 ›› Front
The appeal of Halkhata, the opening of new financial record books on the first day of the Bengali New Year, among big businesses has decreased with the advancement of technology, but some traders still practice the centuries-old tradition.
A section of businessmen in semi-urban, urban, and especially Old Dhaka areas celebrate Halkhata by opening new accounting books with the hope of getting increased economic returns in the New Year.
Halkhata is a tradition that is almost synonymous with Pahela Baishakh celebrations. In the past, traders in rural areas used to open shops in the early hours of Pahela Baishakh and then clean and decorate those with paper flowers. They would greet customers with traditional snacks like jilapi (jalebi) or muri (puffed rice).
Today is Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year 1430. There will be a wide range of celebrations while traders in Old Dhaka will celebrate Halkhata on a limited scale.
A number of businessmen in Old Dhaka said they will observe Halkhata this year to uphold the old tradition. It will be celebrated in the markets in Shankhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar, Shyambazar, Babu Bazar, and Islampur.
Traders in Islampur and Tantibazar told The Business Post they still try to maintain the old custom although it has lost its grandeur.
“Even this year, we made cards containing heartfelt greetings and good wishes, inviting our customers to visit shops on the first day of Baishakh,” one of them said.
Mohammad Nur-e-Alam, proprietor of Jahan Fashion in Islampur, said although most financial transactions in his business are made through banks and he keeps the records in Microsoft Excel, he still celebrates Halkhata.
“Halkhata is considered a token of good omen, which brings prosperity and fortune for businesses. It helps establish a good relationship with customers and strengthens harmony, which can be beneficial to any business,” said another trader named Bachchu.
“But I am concerned about whether the next generation will keep this tradition alive.”
Islampur traders also said those who do not celebrate Halkhata at least clean their business premises and colour their shop walls on the first day of the Bengali New Year.
Businesses in Old Dhaka celebrated Halkhata last year in a festive mood.
The inclination of businesses to prioritise the English New Year instead of the Bengali one is the key reason why Halkhata has lost its appeal, Khatunganj traders in Chattogram said.
However, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Md Sameer Sattar said the Halkhata tradition has not disappeared completely but changed its form in line with the digital revolution and socio-economic development in the country.
He said the festivities centring Halkhata are still there in rural areas.
“As businesses are getting new means of recording their financial transactions, they are losing interest in the traditional Halkhata. However, I would say it is another manifestation of the centuries-old tradition.”
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam said traders in the port city used to serve the traditional Mezban beef with plain rice and a variety of Bengali sweets, cakes, and drinks to greet customers on the first day of Baishakh.
“That tradition is long gone, and Halkhata celebrations have become limited. To my knowledge, only traders in Khatunganj celebrate Halkhata nowadays,” he added.
Mughal Emperor Akbar established a new calendar in 1584 based on the old Bengali one to ease taxation. It was of high importance to the business community as most customers used to settle their dues on the first day of the year.
Since then, Bengali traders have been keeping their transaction notes in the traditional 360-page red ledger book, which they update on the first day of the New Year amid festivity and communal harmony. However, modern technology has to a large extent caused the splendour of the Halkhata tradition to fade.
Even a few years back, it used to be celebrated elaborately in the wholesale markets of consumer goods across the country. The shopkeepers used to send their customers letters and cards, informing them about their total dues and inviting them to settle their accounts on the first day of the New Year.
This practice of friendly correspondence between customers and shopkeepers has been overshadowed by electronic communication methods, such as cellphone, social media, and email. The popularity of banks for financial transactions has also reduced the necessity of Halkhata.
Now payments are made using online, mobile, and regular banking services. The trend has forced the manufacturers of red-coloured ledger books to find an alternate means of income.
