According to Hindu practices, Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second Lunar day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Karthika (comes between October and November). It is the concluding day of five days Diwali festive week.
This year Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on 29th October 2019 since Diwali will be on 27th October.
Bhai Dooj commemorates the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters apply vermilion tilaks on the foreheads of their brothers and pray for their prosperity; in return, the brothers promise the sisters to protect them from every evil force along with loads of gifts.
History and Significance of the festival
The celebrations of this day are similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan. On Bhaiya Dooj, sisters pray for their brothers to have long and happy lives. Sisters perform aarti for their brother and apply a red tika on the brother’s forehead. This tika ceremony on the occasion of Bhai Dooj signifies the sister’s sincerest prayers for the long and happy life of her brother and treats them with gifts. In return, brothers bless their sisters and may treat them also with gifts or cash. Later, sisters offer their brothers a sumptuous meal often including their favorite dishes/sweets.
One of the popular stories about the history of Bhai Dooj says that after Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra after killing the demon Narakasura, she welcomed him affectionately with sweets, flowers and applying tilak on his forehead. This loving gesture touched Krishna so much that he blessed her with many boons.
This festival is known as Bhai Phota in West Bengal, Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Yama Dwitiya in southern parts of the country. It is celebrated with different rituals and has various folklores associated with it.
