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Common spirit for Pahela Baishakh

AVIK SANWAR RAHMAN
The Bangla New Year will be celebrated in true community spirit this year with both the Muslims and Hindus preparing to observe the 'Pahela Baishakh' on the same day, April 14.
Last year the Hindu community in Bangladesh and India celebrated the New Year on April 15 according to the Loknath Panjika, the religious calendar of the Hindus.
The Muslims however follow the Dr. Qudrat-e-Khuda calendar for Bangla months which differs a little with the Loknath calendar in the cases of certain months.
Usually Pahela Baishakh falls on April 14 every year following adjustments made in the Bangla calendar in consultation with the Qudrat-e-
Khuda calendar.
As the 1410 Loknath Panjika counted 30 days for the month of Chaitra it matched the Qudrat-e-Khuda calendar.
"Because of undisputed Chaitra counting this time all Bangalees irrespective of Hindu and Muslim will celebrate Pahela Baishakh on the same day," said Shukumar of Jatin and Company in Dhaka.
Although Pahela Baishakh is a public holiday, all the markets and shopping centres in the city will remain open because of the 'Hal Khata'. Hal Khata is the traditional Bengali way of updating the accounts book by businessman.
"We close down the accounts book of the previous year and open a new register on Pahela Baishakh. That's Hal Khata," said Alam, a trader of Old Dhaka.
The business community believes in the myth that Hal Khata is a symbol of good relationship between the sellers and customers on which every business thrives.
On Hal Khata a new ledger covered in red cloth is unwrapped. Shopkeepers in many stores treat customers to sweets.
The festive mood of the Hal Khata is felt everywhere in the city especially at reputed shopping centres. There is special seating arrangement for customers at Baitul Mukarram market.
"Hal Khata is a marketing policy," said a gold shop owner of Baitul Mukarram.
Sales increase on Pahela Baishakh as regular clients and customers are invited to the shop for sweets and business of course.