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.

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. Haal Khata is Bengali tradition that is over 430 years old. Haal means updating and Khata means ledger.

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

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