Bengalis celebrated Bengali New Year Poila Baisakh

Kolkata, April 16: Bengalis across West Bengal - as also in other parts of the country and abroad - exchanged sweets and pleasantries, prayed and rejoiced on Sunday to usher in Bengali New Year "Poila Baisakh" with fervour.

The devout visited the famous temples of Goddess Kali at Kalighat and Dakshineshwar and offered flowers and traditional sweets ('sandesh'), while shopkeepers and businessmen began a new financial year by observing the 'haal khata' ceremony - closing their old account books and opening new ones.

Attired in freshly-bought clothes, a tradition in this part of the country, revellers celebrated the day with family and friends. People greeted each other with "Shubho naba barsho (happy new year)".

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished people on the occasion as she visited the Kalighat temple and distributed sweets.