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Do you know why ‘haal khata’ is intrinsic to Poila Baisakh?

Know five facts about the ‘kheror khata’ aka ‘haal khata’ today

Image courtesy: TT archives

Have you ever been on store stops on Poila Baisakh with the elders of the family when you were little? Apart from the sweet boxes and the cold drinks that they served, which were obviously alluring, what also caught the eye were the bright red copies covered with thin cloth — the haal khatas. Those have always been a curiously nostalgic thing. On the first day of the Bengali New Year, here are a few facts about haal khata to know:

1. Haal khata signifies opening a fresh ledger by business owners
2. On this day, previous debts are paid by the customers and a new leaf of transaction begins
3. This day is believed to usher in good luck and prosperity to the business. The haal khata is intrinsic to the day
4. Haal khata is also known as kheror khata, and they are handmade. The red cloth demarcates a current haal khata from other copies

— Pooja Mitra

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