Bhai Dooj 2023: Date, History, Significance, Story & more.

Bhai Dooj Quick Facts

History of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is a Hindu festival celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. This is a festival that comes two days after Diwali, which expresses the affection of the sister towards the brother and the sisters wish for the well-being of their brother.

Bhai Dooj is an important festival in the Indian cultural tradition that symbolizes the love and respect of brothers and sisters. This festival is celebrated every year on the Dwadashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha according to the Hindu calendar, which falls at the end of the month of Kartik.

Story of Bhai Dooj

Krishna and Draupadi: This legend holds that Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra in Dwapara Yuga. Respecting her brothers Balarama and Shri Krishna, Subhadra applied Tilak on their foreheads. This brought great joy to his brothers and they went to Subhadra to grant her a boon. Therefore, in Indian culture, the celebration of Bhai Dooj is considered a symbol of love and respect for siblings.

Yamraj and Yamuna: This story reflects a belief behind Bhaiduj. According to legend, Goddess Yamuna, the sister of Lord Yamraj, went to her brother and prayed him to cook food. Yamraj granted him a boon and said that the brother who gets Tilak applied by his sister and fed sweets on this day, will be protected by a unique vision.

Significance of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is an important festival in Indian culture, which is considered a symbol of love and respect between brothers and sisters. This festival recognizes the sacred and ideal relationship between brother and sister. On this day, during the ritual of Bhai Dooj, the sister applies tilak and feeds sweets to her brother, showing their love and respect. Bhaidooj is a family festival which signifies unity, harmony and companionship to all the members of the family. On this day all the family members sit together and enjoy the happiness and love. Bhai Dooj firmly recognizes the love, respect, cooperation, ideals and faith of brothers and sisters. On this day brother and sister have special importance for each other and keep their relationship sweet and deep.

How to celebrate Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is celebrated in different ways in Indian culture:

Tilak and Sweets: On the day of Bhai Dooj, sister applies Tilak on the forehead of her brother and blesses him. After this the sister feeds sweets to her brother. This tradition reveals the love of brother and sister and strengthens their mutual relationship.

Tilak and Aarti: On this day sister applies Tilak to her brother with affection. Tilak is considered a symbol of happiness, protection and good luck. After that, an aarti is performed in which the sister prays for the brother's long life, happiness, prosperity and prosperity.

Gifts: Brothers and sisters exchange gifts on the day of Bhaidooj. The sister gives a special gift to her brother and the brother also gives a gift to the sister. These gifts are a symbol of love and ideals towards each other.

Gatherings and Celebrations: Families have a tradition of getting together on the day of Bhai Dooj. All the family members celebrate Bhaidooj by sitting together, singing songs, distributing sweets and blessing each other. A strategic program can also be organized here which includes games, music, dance and poetry etc.

Special feast: In many families a special feast is organized on the day of Bhai Dooj. Family members enjoy eating together and share in each other's happiness.

Tradition and customs of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is celebrated throughout the northern part of India during the Diwali festival. It is also the second day of the Vikrami Samvat New Year, which is celebrated in northern India, beginning in the lunar month of Kritika. It is widely celebrated by the Awadhis in Uttar Pradesh, Bharadutiyas as Maithils in Bihar and people of various other ethnic groups. The first day of this new year is celebrated as Govardhan Puja.

According to a popular legend in Hindu mythology, after killing the evil demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra. who warmly welcomed them with sweets and flowers. He also lovingly applied Tilak on Krishna's forehead. Some consider this to be the origin of the festival.

In Nepal Bhitika is the Bhitihar of the brothers i.e. Tihar, where it is the most important festival after Dashain (Vijayadashami/Dussehra). Celebrated on the fifth day of the Tihar festival, it is widely celebrated by the Khasa people. In Bengal, this festival is known as Bhai Phonta, and it takes place every year on the second day after Kali Puja. Bhai Dooj festival is known as Bhaubeej among Marathi, Gujarati and Konkani speaking communities in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.

Kayasthas collectively worship Chitragupta, who keeps the account of Dharmaraj in heaven, through pictures or idols. They also worship business books on this day. Rachel Fell McDermott, Professor of Asian Studies at Columbia University, describes Rabindranath Tagore's Rakhi-Bandhan celebrations, which were inspired by Bhai Dooj rituals, that were organized to protest the 1905 Partition of Bengal.

More info about Bhai Dooj

Though belief and celebration of Bhai Dooj by families has been a feature in Indian traditions, but some changes and changes have taken place with the modern lifestyle and time. Earlier sweets and cosmetics were more popular as gifts on Bhai Dooj. But nowadays people use various items like gadgets, books, clothes, accessories, travel packages etc. Nowadays, the celebration of Bhai Dooj focuses more on strengthening the brother-sister bond and expressing love and respect for each other. Now on the day of Bhai Dooj, public functions are organized where people get together and celebrate. It includes art, music, dance, performances etc. Effects of Modern Residential Communities: Nowadays people live in modern residential communities where they tend to celebrate with their neighbors and friends. These communities adopt a way of meeting and celebrating, especially on the occasion of Bhai Dooj.

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