Bhai Dooj 2025: The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated in India after Diwali and Govardhan Puja. This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on October 23, 2025. Find out which states in India celebrate Bhai Dooj.

Bhai Dooj 2025: The relationship between a brother and sister is as sacred as it is unique. Besides Raksha Bandhan, there is another festival dedicated to siblings, also known as Bhai Dooj. This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on October 23, 2025. 

Bhai Dooj is one of the biggest festivals in India, celebrated two days after Diwali and one day after Govardhan Puja. According to the Hindu calendar, this festival falls on the second day of the bright fortnight of the Kartik month.

Bhai Dooj in different states of India

In West Bengal, the festival of Bhai Dooj is known as "Bhai Phonta," which is celebrated two days after Kali Puja. During this time, sisters host a grand feast for their brothers.

Apart from this, they also observe a fast. They apply a tilak of sandalwood, kajal, and ghee on their brother's forehead and pray for his well-being. 

Bhai Dooj is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Bihar

In the northern Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Bhai Dooj is celebrated in a different way. During this time, sisters abuse their brothers and then prick them with needles as punishment.  

In Bihar, this tradition is believed to protect brothers from evil forces and negative influences. Sisters complete this ritual by applying a tilak to their brothers' foreheads. 

Bhai Dooj in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat

In Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat, the festival of Bhai Dooj is known as Bhaubij. During this time, sisters fast for their brothers from early morning. They make them sit on a stool and offer them karith fruit to eat.

After this, the sisters apply tilak on their brother's forehead and wish him long life, success and good health. 

Sisters who do not have brothers apply henna to their hands and worship the moon god on Bhai Dooj. In these states, brothers are offered sweets such as kheerni, puri, shrikhand, and basundi puri on Bhai Dooj. 

Celebration of Bhai Dooj in Nepal

The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated in India as well as Nepal. In Nepal, this festival is known as Bhai Tika. In Nepal, this festival is celebrated by the Maithili, Newari, Bahun, Chhetri, and Tharu communities.

In Nepal, on this day, sisters pray to Yamraj, the god of death, for their brothers' long lives. Afterward, sisters apply a seven-colored tilak (a paste of a sacred thread) to their brothers' foreheads. After performing aarti (an arti ritual) and offering sweets, brothers bless their sisters.