'Hal Khata', the beginning of new accounts.

Boisakh is the first month of the year according to the lunar calendar of Bangabda. The first day of this month is called “Poila Boisakh” and falls on the 14th or 15th of April of the Gregorian calendar. Poila Boisakh or Nabo Barsho is celebrated with much fanfare in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

It was during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar that Poila Boisakh began to be celebrated as an auspicious day by Bengalis. In villages and towns, businessmen and traders had to clear up all dues and close their old account books on the last day of Choitro. A new book of accounts or ‘halkhata’ was opened on the first day of the year amid exchange of sweets and greetings, business ties were also renewed.

This tradition is practiced even today, especially by jewellers. Bengali businessmen, both small-time traders and big investors, usually start new projects or open new shops on Poila Boisakh.

This day also ushers in new harvest in rural Bengal. Villagers clean and wash their homes, put on new clothes, prepare special delicacies and entertain friends and family on Poila Boisakh. Fairs are organised in many parts of Bengal and cultural folk items like puppet shows, traditional plays or jatras provide ample entertainment to the rural people.

In Kolkata, businessmen queue up in front of the famous Kalighat Temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess and begin their year in a positive note. People also worship Lakshmi and Ganesh on this day.

All markets and shopping malls in kolkata organise huge stock clearing sales or ‘Chaitra Sale’ a month before the Poila Boisakh. This is done keeping in mind the Bengali traditional custom of wearing new clothes and buying new household items on Poila Boisakh. Huge discounts and attractive offers are offered and consumers have a rocking time shopping in Kolkata during this time.

Early morning processions or ‘Probhat Pheri’ are organised in residential localities in and around Kolkata. Men, women and children dressed in traditional Bengali clothes sing, dance and perform while touring different areas of the city.

For the Bengali film industry, Poila Boisakh is of special significance as a number of new films flag off on this day. Most of the producers prefer to start new projects on Poila Boisakh after offering pujas and a number of ‘muhurats’ take place on this day.

All football clubs in Kolkata, including giants like Mohun Bagan A.C. and East Bengal, begin practice for the season on Poila Boisakh after performing pujas in their respective tents and grounds. Players kick off the new season by kicking the new balls and are often cheered on from the sidelines by players of yesteryears.

Poila Boisakh is just not a red-lettered day in the Bengali calendar – it’s a day of supreme significance in the fabric of Bengali life. It symbolises renewed faith in the new order of things and reminds us of our promise towards our future generation.