Traders to worship computers, iPads and cellphones during Diwali Puja

12 November, 2012

With changing times, the Deepawali Pujan, most sacred event for business community in India, has also undergone a significant change as besides the worshiping of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi, the traders of the country will also worship computers, laptops, iPads and mobile phones since they have become most integral part of the business in the country in last few years.

“CONSIDERING FDI in Retail as a major crisis for the survival of their business and because Lord Hanuman is the savior of all crisis; the worshipping of Lord Hanuman will also form the part of Diwali Pujan this year,” said B. C. Bhartia, National President of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an apex body of Indian trading community.

CAIT National Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal while describing the logic said: “In view of rapid computerization, most traders across the country have changed their accounting system from traditional Bahi-Khata to computer system. Therefore, on the occasion of Diwali, the trading community will also be worshipping modern tools like computers, iPads, laptops and mobile phones this year on Diwali.” He sees this change as a “transitional period” for a change from one system to another system.

Earlier, from ages, the Indian trading community was using one traditional “Bahi-Khata” for the accounting purposes and it was operated by “Munim Ji” or the businessmen himself. By and large the Bahi-Khata was written either in Hindi or Mundi language. With the introduction of Sales Tax system around year 1950, the one Bahi-Khata was added by two or more Bahi-Khata to record transactions in various forms like ledger, cash book, and stock book, etc.

It was in 70's when in order to comply the taxation system in a proper way, the traditional Bahi-Khata was replaced by cash register, ledger register, stock register, etc and the traditional “Munim Ji” was replaced by “Accountant”. It was in the year 2007 which saw the era of beginning of adoption of computers for accounting purpose only by very small percentage of business community and the “accountant” was replaced by “computer educated accountant.

With the change in policies of the government, now the “e-governance” has taken place and the taxation and other laws and Acts are based on computerization system. Now, the computers, laptops, and mobiles are being used to conduct business activities. The latest addition in this system is iPad.

Though, as per a survey conducted by CAIT a year ago, about only 18% to 20% traders across the country have so far adopted the computers but sooner or later the majority percentage of traders will have to adopt computers to comply online provisions of taxation system in India.

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said Diwali Pujan is most sacred ceremony of worshipping in business community and since computers, laptops, iPads and mobile phones have become not only been used as accounting system tools but even for conducting other business activities. Therefore, all such tools will be a part of Diwali Pujan on Diwali day, 13th November, 2012.

Though it will be adopted by large number of traders across the country but to give a loud message to traders across the country to up-grade and modernize their business format, the main puja will be held on Diwali day at CAIT National Headquarters at Karol Bagh in New Delhi where Diwali Puja will be performed by eminent Pandits through proper Vedic Mantras keeping the sanctity of the worshipping ceremony. Besides Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi, the Lord Hanuman and computer, laptop, mobile phones and iPad will form the part of Pujan ceremony in a most distinguished way.