The Bengali New Year 1431 will begin with the sunrise on Sunday. In this land of six seasons, the harvesting season was counted from the day Emperor Akbar ascended the throne; And that New Year is now celebrated as Bangabd, meaning Bangla Year. With the evolution of technology, the tradition of ‘halkhata’ wrapped in red drapers is almost gone. Due to the touch of computing technology, the process of formal updating of shop accounts on the first day of Bangla Year has also slowed down.
Traditionally, on the first day of the new year, shops were washed, gold and silver touched water and rose water were sprinkled. Invitation cards were sent to the customers with the aim of updating the Halkhata through clearing off the arrears from the middle of Chaitra, the last month of Bangla calendar.
Besides, the thick talikhata/halkhata wrapped or bound in red cloth updated the business relationship between the seller and the buyer. However, this Halkhata has now been replaced by ERP software of computing technology. Traditionally, there are some celebrations of halkhata at some places, but now the account is not maintained in the halkhata but on the computers or mobile phones. In addition to the financial year, if some celebrates Halkhata, the buyers do not respond as before. The custom of collecting the rest by decorating the shop with sweet faces is now our past. Even then, if someone sends an account of the outstanding amount, the creditors send the money through bank transfer or MFS like bKash, Nagad or some other MFSs.
There was a time when New Year or Pahela Baisakh was celebrated as ‘Artab Utsav’ i.e., ‘Seasonal Festival’. The harvesting period calculations of the Mughal period were once disturbed in the calculation of crop lifting. Farmers of Bengal used to fall into irregular payment of taxes. Therefore, Emperor Akbar ordered the reformation of the ancient calendar. According to the order, the famous Bengali astronomer and thinker Fatehullah Siraji introduced the new Bengali calendar based on the ‘Solar Calendar’ and the Arabic ‘Hijri Calendar’. At first this year was called Fosli year, later it came to be known as Bangabd or Bengali year.
All businesses from grocery stores to corporates are now digitally accounted for. Accounting work is now on computers or mobile phones. Earlier, handwritten slips were given to buyers for selling various products. Now computerized slips are given. As a result, there is not much need for book keeping. However, in the business world of the country, the name ‘Tali’ is still well known due to the ERP and CRM software of this name (Tally). Popular apps like ‘Calculator’ and ‘Moka’ or ‘Shopup Retail’ are often used in grocery stores. Bangla QR code has been added to it. Currently, this technology has become quite popular in accounting for floating vendors including tea shops, grocery stores, hotels, cobblers.
According to small and medium traders, even if there is no computer in the shop, the account of product sales is being kept constantly through mobile phones. As a result, the well-known red cloth or paper-wrapped accounting ledger book (Halkhata) next to the cashier is also going to disappear day by day. Custom app or software is used for calculations. Also, now without printing the card, the account balance is informed every quarter through SMS, e-mail, WhatsApp, IMO. There is no waiting for a whole year now. Statements are given after three or four months if necessary. Basically, thanks to technology, business accounts are updated with every transaction. If the arrears are overdue, a debt collection letter is sent. Small and medium traders try to clear off this account especially before Eid.
In digital Bangladesh, therefore, computers, mobiles, software, customized apps and online banking, mobile banking has become the substitute of ‘halkhata’ of the new year. Still, traders in Tantibazar, Shankharibazar and Islampur areas of the capital start new accounts every year through Halkhata. That is, the owners of the jewelry still maintain this tradition.