TODAY, the Bangla New Year's Day, is being celebrated throughout Bangladesh with traditional enthusiasm and festivities. The first day of the month of Baishakh is counted as the first day in the Bangla Calendar. The observance of Pahela Baishakh has survived notwithstanding two hundred years of colonial rule. In fact, Pahela Baishakh has its origins rooted deep in the culture and tradition of this country and is an occasion of traditional and cultural festivities of its people.
An essentially indigenous celebration, the history of the day is traced back centuries ago to the rule of the imperial Mughals who once held sway over the entire Indian subcontinent including its richest part, Bengal. It was from the custom of the Mughal emperor Akbar that the tradition of paying their taxes to the emperor's coffers by his subjects developed at around the first day of the Bangla month of Baishakh. Therefore, the first of Baishakh came to be recognised as a sort of official start of activities or opening of fresh accounts books for the year, and this gradually developed into a rich tradition.
Most businesses on this day carry out the practice of halkhata, which means the opening of updated accounts books closing old accounts, and celebrate it with jovial functions and distribution of sweets. Special dishes are prepared and served at many homes to add to the aura of the celebration. A feature of the celebrations is the holding of melas (fairs) with displays of local artistic products. Musical soirees are also organised. All these festivities form a part of the distinctive cultural trait of the people. This is one occasion - apart from Independence and Victory days, and the Ekushey February - on which people, irrespective of their religion, caste or colour differences, throng the same venues to share festivities.
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