The other names of Bhai Dooj are Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Dooj, Bhau-Beej, and Bhai Phota in different regions of India. Bhai Dooj is an exclusive kind of celebration that heralds the loving relationship between a brother and sister. The prefix Bhai means brother and Dooj means the second day of the lunar month during the waxing phase. The essence of this festival includes the sisters praying for the welfare and happiness of their brothers and the brothers assuring their concern, care and protection for their sisters.
When is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
Bhai Dooj is celebrated as a part of the five days long Diwali festival. This event falls two days after Diwali and marks the conclusion of the Diwali celebrations.
Bhai Dooj Shubh Muhurat
This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. The Shubh Mururat for Bhai Dooj is from 01:11 pm and 13:25 pm with a duration of 02 hours and 14 minutes.
Legends connected with Bhai Dooj
There are two highly interesting mythological stories that tell us the origin of Bhai Dooj.
The first one is connected to Lord Krishna. It is said Shubadra, the sister of Lord Krishna invited Krishna in a loving and grand manner after he had defeated the demon Narakasur. She applied tilak in the forehead of Krishna as a mark of celebrating his victory, garlanded him and performed arati. Krishna was highly pleased with his sister’s love and hence he blessed her with several boons.
The second story is connected to Yama, the god of death who visited his sister Yamuna. Since Yama met his sister on the second day (Dwitiya) of the waxing phase of lunar month in the month of Kartika, the festival is also called as Yamadvitiya.
Bhai Dooj puja procedure
Sisters perform this puja seeking the welfare of their brother. Brothers visit their sisters on this day. Sisters invite them in a ritualistic way and apply tilak on their foreheads. Applying tilak and performing arati must be done during the right Muhurat to get the maximum benefits of the Bhai Dooj puja.
Sisters also treat their brothers with a lot of sweets and delicious dishes. While visiting their sisters, brothers do carry a lot of gifts for their sisters and give their assurance to protect them and care for them during all times. In essence and spirit, the theme of Bhai Dooj resembles that of Raksha Bandhan.
Regional variations in Bhai Dooj celebrations
In Bengal, Bhai Dooj is called as Bhai Phota and is celebrated by sisters by applying tilak to their brothers’ foreheads. They chant a special mantra during the ritual. In Haryana, the same ritual of tilak is performed and the sisters offer a dry coconut to their brothers tied with Kalawa thread during the arati.
Final word
Celebrating the affectionate bond between brother and sister, Bhai Dooj is a very sacred and momentous event for the Hindus. Hence this event is enthusiastically awaited by sisters and brothers in order to refresh and rejoice their relationship.
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