Bhai Dooj Significance, Story and Rituals
Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj is a Hindu festival celebrated by all women by pray for the long life of their brothers and receive gifts in return. The festival is celebrated on the last day of the 5-day long Diwali festival which is on the second day of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. This year Bhai Dooj is being celebrated on 03 November, Sunday.
Bhai Dooj┬аDate
The festival of Bhai Dooj can be celebrated on both the dates.
Dwitiya Tithi Begins: ┬а02 November 2024 at 08:21 pm
Dwitiya Tithi Ends: 03 November 2024 at 10:05 pm
Bhai Dooj┬аStory┬а
According to Hindu mythology, after defeating the evil demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna paid a visit to his sister Subhadra who warmly welcomed him with sweets and flowers. He affectionately applied tilak on Krishna's forehead. Some believe that this is the origin of the festival. However, legend has it that on this particular day, Yama, the god of death, visited his sister Yami. He applied tilak on the forehead of his brother Yama, garlanded him, and offered him special dishes which he himself cooked. They had met each other after a long time, had a meal together, and talked their hearts out to each other. They also exchanged gifts with each other and Yami made the gift with her own hands. Yama then announced that whoever gets his sister tilak on this day will get long life and prosperity. On the basis of this, Bhai Dooj is also known as Yama Dwitiya.
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How is the festival of Bhai Dooj celebrated?
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Bhai Dooj is celebrated by inviting sisters for a sumptuous meal specially prepared by sisters, which includes their favorite dishes. This ceremony is about the responsibility of the brother to protect his sister with the blessings of the sister. It is a very traditionally celebrated ceremony where sisters perform aarti of their brothers and apply red tika on their foreheads. The Tika ceremony on the occasion of Bhai Dooj depicts a sister's prayer for her brother's long life and prosperous accumulation. In return, the brother gives gifts which may also be in the form of monetary terms.
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Bhai Dooj Puja Method
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There are many customs to celebrate Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj is a festival celebrated in many ways in our country.
According to tradition, on this day a brother goes to his sister's house. Sisters apply tilak on the brother's forehead and perform the aarti. Then gives the coconut to the brother. Brother gives some gifts and cash etc. to his sister.
According to another custom, on this day a brother goes to his sister's place. Sister welcomes him. Sister takes bath on this day and wears good clothes. On a pedestal, the sister applies Ahipan. Brother is made to sit on the seat. Then the sister takes the boat with her brother. In this, a potter flower, betel leaf, and a silver coin are taken. This is kept in an earthen pot. First of all, the sister puts sandalwood and vermilion on her brother's forehead. Then she applies vermilion to her brother's hand. And keeps the above-mentioned material in the hands of her brother. Then pouring the holy water kept in the pot into her brother's hand, she drops all the ingredients back into that earthen pot. In this process, the sister says that as much as the water in the Yamuna increases, the life of my brother increases. After that sister feeds sweets to her brother and the brother gives some gifts to his sister.
Conclusion
To know about the timing of applying tilak to your brother on the day of Bhai Dooj, talk to astrology. Astrology can tell about all your festival rituals, method, and Muhurat.
