Haalkhata, panjika move to front shelf days ahead of Poila Baisakh

Kolkata: Days ahead of Poila Baisakh next week, traders in the city, especially in north and central Kolkata, have started preparations for the Bengali New Year, reviving rituals that blend commerce—beginning of new account books—with culture.At Baithakkhana, located between Sealdah and Amherst Street, and along the book-lined stretches of College Street's Boipara, shops have received fresh coats of paint, inventories have been replenished and Poila Baisakh essentials, such as haalkhata (red ledger books) and panjika (almanacs), have moved to the front shelves ahead of the annual celebration. The Bengali New Year, which marks the first day of the traditional calendar, brings with it a mix of rituals, commerce and nostalgia, visible across Baithakkhana's ledger shops and Boipara. Baithakkhana, which is a hub for haalkhata traders, comes alive around this time of the year. On new year, a ritual is carried out, marking the symbolic practice of concluding old ledgers and beginning new ones, accompanied by puja and distribution of sweets.Shops in this central Kolkata neighbourhood are now stacked with red-bound ledgers and almanacs. "Most businesses run on computers now and traders use Excel sheets and Google Docs, but this ritual of haalkhata has an emotional value, which is hard to replace," said Gourabh Chatterjee, a ledger seller on Surya Sen Street. "Sales are not very high but we still have a dedicated customer base that comes back every year for Poila Baisakh." College Street's Boipara, known for its sprawling collection of new and second-hand books, becomes a marketplace for panjika, the Bengali almanac, and calendars. "Panjika is more than a calendar. It guides rituals, festivals and even daily decisions in many households," said Pratap Das, secretary of Sir Ashutosh Booksellers' Association in College Street. "Even if younger generations prefer apps, families still keep one at home. People buy those during Poila Baisakh, when new almanacs are printed for the new year." Shopkeepers in both business hubs have been busy repainting shops, replenishing inventory, cleaning signboards and preparing for the footfall. Many traders give their shops a makeover on Sundays. "Sales are not what they used to be but the spirit of the festival keeps us going," said Imran Mondal, a bookseller in Boipara. "People still believe in starting the year on a positive note. I sell second-hand books all year round, but a week before Poila Baisakh, I start selling calendars."That sentiment extends beyond business. With war in West Asia and unrest elsewhere, and global uncertainties lingering, many see the Bengali New Year as a moment for reflection and hope. "After all the unrest we've seen in West Asia and elsewhere, people are looking for peace and stability," said Subhajit Roy, a customer browsing calendars on College Street. "Poila Baisakh is an opportunity to start afresh with goodwill and optimism."
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