Traders hold Diwali puja of GST portal

With the GST portal replacing their cash book, ledger and books of accounts, the trading community held traditional Diwali puja of the GST portal.

Computers and other means of business communications including laptops, telephones and cellphones were also worshiped across the country, traders body CAIT said.

Diwali Puja, considered to be the most auspicious for the traders, is particularly performed at business places, and since GST portals have also become business places, we performed Diwali Puja of the portal at the physical stores,” Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said, talking on behalf of traders across the country.

With the implementation of GST in the country, the GST portal has now become a cash book, ledger and books of accounts of the trading community instead of traditional ‘bahi khaata’. Besides computers, mobile and other e-gadgets were also worshipped.

CAIT said that small businesses also prayed for GST portal’s smooth functioning. The GST portal has been marred by hiccups ever since its launch on July 1. While the government claims that the last minute rush to file returns has been clogging the portal, traders say they hardly get to submit their forms due to other technical glitches.

Diwali is the most important festival for the business community, which marks the traditional new year, when they close their accounts. At CAIT headquarters in Delhi, vedic scholars performed Diwali Puja amid chanting of mantras and switching the GST portal on.