The annual arrival of Pahela Baishakh used to transform Old Dhaka with bustling markets, colorful decorations, and the traditional “Halkatha” ritual.
Halkatha, a custom associated with Pahela Baishakh festivities, involved the opening of new ledger books to mark the beginning of the Bangla New Year.
In recent times, the vibrant aura of the old tradition has waned as digital transactions and evolving consumer behaviors reshape how merchants commemorate the occasion.
Exploring prominent commercial areas like Tantibazar, Shankharibazar, and Banglabazar reveals a subdued atmosphere surrounding Halkatha compared to its former liveliness.
In Banglabazar, a seller of ledger books, Saiduzzaman, noted a significant decline in sales over the years. He mentioned that while there is still some demand, most record-keeping now occurs digitally.
Similarly, in the printing sector, card seller Khandakar Abdul Hannan observed a near disappearance of printed Halkatha invitation cards. Nowadays, people prefer sending greetings online through platforms like WhatsApp or Messenger.
Reflecting on the changes, brassware trader Bihari Kishore in Shankharibazar remarked on the diminishing cultural significance of Halkatha, mentioning the reduced interest in traditional gifts like brass utensils.
A cloth merchant named Paritosh in Islampur shared concerns about the fading festive spirit and lower sales during the Baishakh period in wholesale markets.
At Rayshaheb Bazar, a staff member at Manik Sweetmeat highlighted a sharp decline in orders for sweets, attributing it to the preference for packaged sweets over traditional items like laddu or rosogolla.
Despite the overall decline, some traders, like gold trader Sunil Karmakar in Tantibazar, continue to uphold the Halkatha tradition for its cultural significance in Old Dhaka.
Haji Kashem Ali, an elderly businessman, reminisced about the past when Halkatha brought people together in a unified celebration. He lamented the fading of this cherished tradition in modern times.
Traders indicate that the increasing shift to digital payments and evolving lifestyles have rendered Halkatha less relevant. While technology has streamlined transactions, it has also diminished the need for customs rooted in personal interactions and community cohesion.
With each passing year, Pahela Baishakh sees Old Dhaka holding onto fragments of the tradition, but for many, Halkatha now exists more as a memory than a vibrant celebration.
