Also known as: Yama Dwitiya, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta, Bhai Tika, Bhatru Dwitiya, Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam · Observed: North India, Maharashtra, Bengal and Nepal
Significance of Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj closes the five days of Diwali with a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day the brother visits his sister's home, where she applies a tilak on his forehead, performs aarti, feeds him a festive meal and prays for his long life and prosperity. He in turn gives her gifts and blessings and renews his promise of support. While Raksha Bandhan centres on the sister's thread and the brother's protection, Bhai Dooj centres on the sister's hospitality and her prayers for her brother's life.
The day is also called Yama Dwitiya, recalling the god of death, and is regarded as a day on which prayers for protection from untimely death are especially effective.
The Legend of Yama and Yamuna
The Puranic story tells that Yama, the lord of death, and the river goddess Yamuna were children of Surya, the Sun. Yamuna often invited her brother to visit, but Yama, busy with his duties, could not come. At last, on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, he arrived at her home. Delighted, Yamuna welcomed him with aarti, applied a tilak, and served him a sumptuous meal. Moved by her affection, Yama granted her a boon. She asked that every brother who visits his sister on this day and accepts her hospitality be free from the fear of untimely death. Yama agreed, and the day became Yama Dwitiya. Another tradition holds that Krishna, after slaying Narakasura, visited his sister Subhadra, who welcomed him with lamps, sweets and a tilak.
Regional Observances
In North India, sisters draw a square of rice flour where the brother sits, apply roli and rice tilak, tie a sacred thread, and offer sweets, betel leaf and dried coconut. In Maharashtra and Goa, Bhau Beej is celebrated with the brother seated on a decorated low stool, and sisters who have no brother worship the moon instead. In Bengal, Bhai Phonta involves the sister applying a mark of sandal paste, kajal and curd while reciting a verse that places a thorn at Yama's door. In Nepal, Bhai Tika is the culmination of Tihar, with seven-coloured tika and garlands of makhamali flowers that do not wilt quickly. Many people also bathe in the Yamuna at Mathura on this day.
In the Telugu states the observance is known as Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam, meaning a meal from the sister's hand. The Kayastha community also worships Chitragupta, the record-keeper of Yama, along with pens and account books, on this day.
How the Date Is Determined
Bhai Dooj falls on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the second tithi of the bright fortnight of Kartika, two days after the Diwali new moon. The tilak ceremony is preferred in the aparahna, the afternoon, so the observance is fixed on the day when Dwitiya prevails during that time. In some years this rule places Bhai Dooj on the same day as Govardhan Puja or two days after it.
Rituals and customs
- Brother visits the sister's home
- Sister applies tilak and performs aarti
- Festive meal served by the sister
- Brother gives gifts and blessings
- Bath in the Yamuna at Mathura
- Chitragupta puja in Kayastha families