Bhai Dooj is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, typically observed on the second day after the new moon of the Hindu lunar calendar, concluding the five-day Diwali festivities. Sisters perform a ritualistic aarti and apply a tika on their brothers' foreheads, praying for their long life and well-being, while brothers, in turn, vow to protect their sisters. The festival, known by regional names like Bhau Beej (Maharashtra) and Bhai Phota (West Bengal), fosters love, respect, and emotional unity among siblings.
In India, where festivals emphasise the importance of family bonds, Bhai Dooj stands out as a celebration of the unique brother-sister relationship. This festival pays homage to the significance of siblings in our lives. It provides an opportunity for sisters, often caught up in their daily routines, to visit their parents and brothers. Bhai Dooj is a tribute to the sacred bond that transcends time and distance.
Legend:
The customs and traditions associated with Bhai Dooj are as rich as India's diverse culture. This festival falls on the second day after Diwali, known as the new moon day or Amavasya, during the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. Bhai Dooj's origins are steeped in myths and legends, with two captivating stories taking centerstage.
According to the first legend Yamraj, the god of death, visited his sister Yami. She welcomed him with great joy, applying a tilak on his forehead. Touched by her love, Yamraj decreed that anyone whose sister applied a tilak on their forehead on this day would be free from the fear of death and hell. Thus, the occassion of Bhai Dooj came into existence.Another name for the day is Yamadwitheya or Yamadvitiya
Another legend has it that after slaying the demon Narkasur, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra on the second day after the new moon. Subhadra warmly welcomed him with an aarti, tilak, flowers, and sweets. This loving gesture became a tradition and is celebrated as Bhai Dooj.
These legends explain the festival's roots, which symbolize the protective and affectionate bond between siblings. The festival has been celebrated for centuries as a way to honor and strengthen this relationship
In many regions of India, Bhai Dooj celebrations extend beyond homes to public spaces and temples.
Regional Variations:
1) Bhai Dooj (Hindi: भाई दूज) in the entire Northern part of India, observed during the Diwali festival. In Awadh and Purvanchal regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, it is also known as Bhaiya Dooj. It is widely celebrated by Maithils in Nepal and Bihar as Bhardutiya and people from various other ethnic groups. The first day of this New Year is observed as Govardhan Pūja.
2) Bhai Teeka (Nepali: भाइटीका) in Nepal, where it is the most important festival after Dashain (Vijaya Dashmi / Dussehra). Observed on the fifth day of Tihar festival, it is widely celebrated by Maithils in Nepal as Bhardutiya Bhai Tika followed by the people of various other ethnic groups among Madhesis. While, the Newaris celebrate it as Kija Puja. The sisters put a vertical Tika of seven colours known as Saptarangi Tika in their brother's forehead.
3) Bhai Phonta (Bengali: ভাই ফোঁটা) in Bengal and it takes place every year on the second day after Kali Puja. It is mainly observed in West Bengal, Tripura, Bangladesh.
4) Bhai Jiuntia or Bhai Jitiyā (Odia: ଭାଇ ଜିଉନ୍ତିଆ) only in western Odisha and some parts of Central Odisha.
5) Bhau Beej, or Bhav Bij (Marathi: भाऊ बीज) or Bhai Beej amongst the Marathi, Gujarati and Konkani-speaking communities in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.
6) Another name for the day is Yamadwitheya or Yamadvitiya, after a legendary meeting between Yama the god of Death and his sister Yamuna (the famous river) on Dwitheya (the second day after new moon).
7) Other names include Bhatru Dviteeya, or Bhatri Ditya or Bhaghini Hastha Bhojanamu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
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Rachel Fell McDermott, Professor of Asian Studies at Columbia University, describes Rabindranath Tagore's rakhi-bandhan ceremonies, inspired by the Bhai Dooj ritual, which were organized to protest the 1905 Partition of Bengal
In 1905 Rabindranath Tagore extended the symbolism of Brother's Second, a ritual of bonding between brothers and sisters that is celebrated right after the Pujas have concluded, to evoke friendship between Hindus and Muslims: members of both communities would tie red threads of brotherhood on each other's wrists. All throughout the partition period, these rakhi-bandhan ceremonies were regularly announced in the Bengali and English papers. In addition, some landlords, even the British Indian Association, saw that the boycott and emphasis upon swadeshi items were disturbing peace with rural Muslims in their areas, and withdrew their support