The holy festival of Hinduism, Bhai Dooj, is celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. This is the last day of the five-day Deepotsav. Bhai Dooj is celebrated the next day of Govardhan Puja. This festival is a festival of brother and sister. In this, the sister applies tilak to her brother, performs his aarti, and gives him sweets. In some places, it is also believed that brothers who eat at their sister's house on this day have a long life. The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated almost all over the country. It is known by different names in different places. In Bengal, the festival of Bhai Dooj is known as Bhai Phuta, in Maharashtra and Goa it is known as Bhau Vrat and in Nepal it is known as Bhai Tihar. Let us know interesting things related to Bhai Dooj.
Why do we celebrate Bhai Dooj?
In Hinduism, the festival of Rakshabandhan is celebrated to celebrate the relationship between brother and sister. Like Rakshabandhan, Bhai Dooj is also a festival of brother and sister. It is considered a symbol of their love and respect. On this day, sisters pray for happiness and peace with the wish for a long life for their brother. After worship, the sister celebrates Bhai Dooj by applying tilak on the forehead of the brother. At the same time, the brother also gives gifts or a shotgun to the sister.
When is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
Bhai Dooj is celebrated twice a year. The first Bhai Dooj of the year is celebrated on the second day of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month i.e. after Holi. The second Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, which comes after Diwali. This time the festival of Bhai Dooj is being celebrated on 3 November 2024.
Beliefs associated with Bhai Dooj
The festival of Bhai Dooj is associated with old traditions and religious beliefs. It is believed that on this day, the sister applies tilak on her brother's forehead and worships him. After this, she feeds sweets to her brother. She also cooks good dishes and feeds him. It is said that this increases the lifespan of the brother and brings happiness and peace in his life.
Some rules related to Bhai Dooj
On this day, sisters give their brother Shriphal i.e. coconut shell. It is said that by giving a coconut shell to the brother, the sister wishes for his happiness, peace, and prosperity. The coconut shell is considered a symbol of the brother's protection. Along with Shriphal, the sister also blesses her brother. For this, a tilak plate should be prepared in the puja plate with roli, Mauli, sandalwood, flowers, sweets, aarti, and betel nut. A lamp is lit facing the south direction. Aarti is performed after applying tilak. After this, Shriphal is given. After the puja is completed, the brother gives gifts to his sister.
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