Bhai Dooj: Celebration of Brother-Sister Love

Bhai Dooj, also known as ‘Bhai Tika’ or ‘Bhau-Beej’ is a unique Hindu festival that celebrates the selfless and chaste bond of love between a brother and sister. It is observed on the ‘dooj’ (2nd day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight of moon) in the Hindu month of ‘Kartik’. In the Gregorian calendar, it falls between October-November. Bhai Dooj is the last day of the 5-day long festival of Diwali. On this day the sisters offer prayers for a happy and long life of their brothers. Bhai Dooj is also known as ‘Yamadvitiya’ as on this very day, Lord Yama, the God of Death met his sister the Yamuna, after a very long separation. Nowhere except in India, there is a day dedicated to cherishing the brotherly-sisterly love in such a grand manner.

Bhaiya Dooj 2019 is on October 29 Tuesday

Bhai Dooj: Celebration of Brother-Sister Love

The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor all through the country, especially in northern India. In the state of Bengal, it is observed as ‘Bhai Pota’ just after the Kali puja. India is a country of varied traditions, and Bhai Dooj is also celebrated with different traditions and names. Some of the popular names of this festival are ‘Bhai Bij’, ‘Bhav Bij’, ‘Bhatru Dviteeya’ or ‘Bharti Ditya’. Irrespective of the names, Bhai Dooj is a festival solely meant for sisters and brothers and on this chosen day they express their love for each other generously.

Tika Muhurta, Prayers, Pooja & Rituals Dooring Bhai Dooj

• On the day of Bhai Dooj, the sisters send an invitation to their brothers to come over for a scrumptious meal. In many families, friends and close relatives are also invited on this occasion. The sisters get up early and begin making preparations for the day. They cook mouth-watering delicacies for their brother that also includes their favorite dishes. On this occasion, women also apply Mehendi or henna on their hands.

• Much like the traditional way, sisters perform aarti for their brothers. They apply a red tika with kumkum on their forehead. This Tika ceremony performed during Bhai Dooj, signifies the sincere prayer of sisters for the prosperity and happiness of their brothers. This gesture is also meant to ward off all the evils from their life. To reciprocate, the brothers shower blessings on their sisters and pamper them with gifts or even cash. Some sisters also observe a fast for their brothers till the ceremony gets over.

• As a customary practice in the state of Maharashtra and Haryana, women who do not have brothers, offer prayers to the moon instead. Even sisters, who have brothers living at faraway places, convey the sincerest prayers for their brothers by worshipping Moon God. They perform aarti of the Moon and pray for the longevity of their brothers. It is for this reason also that Hindu children also affectionately call the moon as ‘Chanda Mama’ with ‘Chanda’ meaning ‘moon’ and ‘mama’ refers to the mother’s brother.

Important Timings On Bhaiya Dooj

Sunrise	October 29, 2019, 6:33 AM
Sunset	October 29, 2019, 5:47 PM
Dwitiya Tithi Begins	October 29, 2019, 6:13 AM
Dwitiya Tithi Ends	October 30, 2019, 3:47 AM
Bhai Dooj Tika Muhurat	October 29, 1:17 PM - October 29, 3:32 PM

Significance of Bhai Dooj:

The celebrations of Bhai Dooj commences in a grandeur manner. Sisters and brothers look forward to this occasion with great gaiety and enthusiasm. Brothers, who live in distant places, make efforts to meet their sisters on the thus auspicious day and strengthen their bond of love. On the day of Bhai, Dooj sisters pray to Lord Yama to bestow their brothers with a healthy and long life. The celebrations of Bhai Dooj are similar to the festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ but in contrast, on this day, sisters gift a token of love to their brothers. Bhai Dooj is a much-awaited festival every year as it gives sisters and brothers an occasion to reinforce their affectionate relationship. Brothers and sisters indulge themselves by showering gifts n each other.

Bhaiya Dooj festival dates between 2016 & 2026

Year	Date
2016	Tuesday, 1st of November
2017	Saturday, 21st of October
2018	Friday, 9th of November
2019	Tuesday, 29th of October
2020	Monday, 16th of November
2021	Saturday, 6th of November
2022	Thursday, 27th of October
2023	Wednesday, 15th of November
2024	Sunday, 3rd of November
2025	Thursday, 23rd of October
2026	Wednesday, 11th of November

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