West Bengal celebrates Bengali New Year day today. Large number of people have been visiting Dakshineswar and Kalighat temples since early morning.<br/><br/>The Bengali business community opens new books of accounts known as "Halkhata" on this day. <br/><br/>The state governor Mr. M K Narayanan has greeted the people on the occasion. <br/><br/>A number of cultural programmes have also been organised to mark the day. <br/><br/>The week long Bangla sangeet Mela also begins at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata this evening. <br/><br/>The first day of the Bengali new year is known as "poila baisakh". People are wishing each other "Suvo naba barsho" and exchanging sweets and greetings. <br/><br/>Traders opens new books of accounts which is known as Halkhata. The priest draw "Swastikas" on the new account books to please Lord Ganesha. <br/><br/>But many businessmen are seen to go to Dakishneswar and Kalighat temple with their personal computers for pujas in which they maintain their accounts instead of traditional ledger books. <br/><br/>Bengali newspapers have come out with special supplements. Private TV Channels aired special morning cultural programmes on the occasion. <br/><br/>Restaurants have also planned to serve special Bengali dishes. People are in festive mood to celebrate the day. <br/><br/>Today, Kerala is also celebrating <br/>the beginning of Malayalam new year. The southern state of Kerala is celebrating Vishu, the harvest festival of prosperity, today. <br/><br/>Devotees thronged Krishna temples across the state during pre-dawn hours to have the traditional vishukani darshan. <br/><br/>For the year long prosperity and mirth people of look forward to Vishu festival. <br/><br/>Homes and temples were fully geared since yesterday night to arrange the vishukani ritual, the auspicious sighting of yellow flowers, fruits measure of rice etc aesthetically arranged in a bell metal vessel and placed in front of lord krishna's idol. <br/><br/>Elder members of the family give gifts and samll amount of money to children on this day. Fire crackers add to Vishu celebration in north Kerala. Traditional mouth watering feast served on plantain leaves is another integral part of vishu celebration.<br/>