bhai dooj celebration

The festival of Bhaiya Dooj is celebrate the fifth day of the festival of Diwali. As per the Hindu calendar, Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the New Moon day of the bright fortnight of Shukla Paksha, in the Hindu Kartik month. Bhai Dooj is almost similar to Raksha Bandhan, which expresses the love and bond between a brother and his sister. Bhai Dooj in 2014, will be celebrated by brothers and sisters with same love, affection and care.

Bhai Dooj is an auspicious occasion which is celebrated with great fervour and happiness all over the country. Brothers and sisters eagerly wait for this festival which strengthens the bond of love and care between them by recalling all the sweet memories of childhood and spending some time with each other. At the time of tika ceremony, sisters pray to God for the long life and well being of their brothers and at the same time, brothers vow to protect their sisters in any difficulty and to keep them happy till the end of their life. Sisters who are not able to meet at the time of Bhai Dooj send tika along with the gifts and puja thali to their brothers. And like every festival, this one has a beginning too, one which is truly engulfed in mythologies, more than one, with each narrating a different story as how this festival came to be celebrated.

India is a land of festivals, and customs and traditions are integral part of Indian culture. Every festival is culturally important in its own self. And one such festival happens to be Bhai Dooj. This festival falls on the second day after Diwali and its spirit is to cherish the bond of love and affection that brother and sister share. Bhai Dooj is one of the most awaited festivals that display unique cultural traditions in different regions of India. The festival of Bhai Dooj develops within us the feeling of love and care towards our siblings.On this day, sisters invite and offer their brothers with scrumptious meal. A special square shaped space is drawn with flowers and beautified with corn powder by sisters. As per the tradition, the brothers have to step in that square area. Before he enters it, brother is made to eat a bitter fruit. There a legend related to it, which says that Lord Krishna tasted this fruit before he went to slay the demon Narakasura. And after killing the demon, Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who welcomed him heartily by applying tilak on Krishna forehead. Since then the custom of celebrating Bhai Dooj or Bhaubeej started.Carrying this occasion in traditional style, sisters decorate puja thalis with sweets, tika, rice, coconut and flowers. Brothers sit in front of their sisters with covered heads, and sisters perform aarti and apply tika on their forehead. She then presents him with sweets and prays to god for his long life and good health. The tradition of gifting is also involved in this festival. The brother reciprocates by showering blessings and gifts on his sisters. Gifts may be in cash or kind, depending upon the understanding of brother sister. Women who have no brother, worship moon God on this auspicious occasion.

As per the Hindu mythology, Bhai Dooj is also known as Yama Dwitiya. The reason behind this is that Yamraj (Lord of Death) visited his sister Yami (Yamuna) on the day of Bhaiya Dooj . Yami put a Tilak (vermilion mark) on Yama forehead and prayed for his well being. In return, Yama presented some gifts to Yamuna, as a token of her prayers and good wishes. Since then, the day of Bhai Dooj holds a great significance for brothers and sisters. Hence, it is believed that if any brother receives a tilak from his sister, he will never face any hurdle throughout his life and post his death.Another legend holds an important association to the festival of Bhai Dooj is Lord Krishna and his sister Subhadra.

On the day of Bhaiya Dooj, Lord Krishna returned to Dwarka after killing the demon Narakasura. Subhadra, the sister of Lord Krishna welcomed her brother with lamps, flowers, sweets and put a mark (Tilak) on his forehead, as a sign of protection. Since then, on the day of Bhai Dooj, every sister puts a vermilion mark on her brother forehead. In return, every brother promises her sisters protection and gives her some gifts.These gifts are an expression of love from a brother to his sister.Similar to any other Hindu festival, the festival of Bhaiya Dooj has more than one legend associated with it. But, the real significance behind celebrating this is the eternal bond which is shared between brother and sister. Bhaiya Dooj in 2014 will again be celebrated by remembering these legends.No festival is complete without its rituals. Various rituals are performed while celebrating the festival of Bhai Dooj in different parts of the country.

Brothers visit their sister home,Sisters apply the auspicious Tilak on brother forehead.,Brothers have a meal prepared by sisters. Traditionally this meal is known as Bhagini,Hastha Bhojanam which means having a meal prepared by sister.,People also worship Lord Yamaraj and his mythical record keeper Chithragupta.,Taking a holy dip in river Yamuna is considered highly pious on this day.

Bhai Phota is celebrated in the state of West Bengal on the Dvitya i.e. on the second day after the Kali Puja.

Bhai Tika Bhai Teeka is celebrated in Nepal on the fifth and the final day of the popular Festival of Light called Tihar or Panchak Yama it is also known as Bhai Tihar and it is a part of Tihar celebrations in the Himalaya Kingdom.

Bhathru Dwithiya is also known popular name for Bhai Dooj, it falls on the fifth and last day of Diwali festival. Dwitheya Day meaning, second day after new moon. Sisters pray for their brothers long life.

Bhatri Ditya is just another name of the famous Hindu festival of Bhaiyya Dooj, This festival is celebrated to strengthen the beautiful bond shared between a brother and a sister, it is also considered a part of Diwali celebrations at many parts of India.