Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj is a Hindu festival that is celebrated by all women by praying for the long life of their brothers and in return receive gifts. The festival is celebrated on the very last day of the 5 days long Diwali festival which is the second day of the bright fortnight or Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik.
In this festival brother visit the place of sister and sister pray for his brother and do the tilak ceremony on the brother’s forehead.
Legend
Lord Krishna visited his sister, Subhadra after killing demon Narkasur. Her sister gave a warm welcome to him and made the occasion really special through flowers and sweets. Subhadra also applied the ceremonial “tilak” on the forehead of her brother, Krishna and hence the festival of “Bhai Dooj” was born from there.
Another legend revolves around the story of Yama, the God of Death and his sister Yamuna. It is believed that he met his beloved sister on Dwitheya, the second day after the new moon and thus the occasion began to be celebrated as “Yamadwitheya” or “Yamadvitiya” across the country from that day.
Meaning and Significance
The festival of Bhai Dooj has a literal meaning attached to it. It is made up of two words namely- “Bhai” meaning brother and “Dooj” meaning the second day after the new moon which is a day of its celebration.
The day holds the special significance into the lives of a brother and a sister. It is an auspicious occasion that celebrates the strong bonding between two opposite sex siblings. Sisters invite their brothers to visit their place and prepare the beloved dishes for them. Sisters also pray to God for the well-being and longevity of their brothers against all the evils and bad fortune. In return, brothers follow their responsibilities of caring and loving their sisters.
What to do on Bhai Dooj Festival
The symbol of Bhai Dooj is the traditional tilak and aarti that the sister does for her brother.
- In the morning after having a shower and dressing up in her festive regalia, the sister prepares the puja thali with a diya, roli, chandan and sweets.
- Then sister call her brother seated for the tilak ceremony.
- Sister then applies the tilak on his forehead as a mark of protection and hands him a coconut. Sister then performs the aarti and for him and chants the mantras his long life and well-being.
- Sister now offers him sweets. In case the brother is married, the sister can also apply tilak on her sister-in-law’s forehead.
- In case the brother has children, sisters can include their nieces and nephews in the ceremony.
- Sister can also prepare a meal for your brother and his family and eat together to celebrate her love.