The celebration of Bhai Dooj represents the unique bond between a brother and a sister. The relationship stands out from the others in a unique and special way, unlike any other. This unique relationship is also referred to as a "Bhai Teeka," "Yam Dwitiya," "Bhrat Dwitya," etc.
Bhai Dooj typically occurs during the dark lunar fortnight of the Kartik
month. This date follows Diwali by exactly two days. The sisters apply a tilak
and offer a prayer for their brothers' long lives on this particular day. In
exchange for all the work the sister does for him, the brother returns the
favour by giving the sister gifts and presents. People honour and adore Yamraj,
the god of death, during Bhai Dooj.
Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of the dark lunar
fortnight. It’s calculation can be done by any of the following methods.
1. According to the scriptures, Bhai Dooj is observed on the second
day of the dark lunar fortnight of the Kartik month if it falls in the fourth
quarter of the day. If Dwitiya tithi fell in the afternoon on either day, Bhai
Dooj should be observed the following day. In addition, we celebrate Bhai Dooj
the next day if Dwitiya Tithi does not appear to fall on the afternoon on any
of the two days.
2. According to other beliefs, Bhai Dooj is celebrated if the
pratipada tithi falls on the evening during a Kartik dark lunar fortnight.
Although it is claimed that this belief is not particularly true.
3. On the afternoon of Bhai
Dooj, the brother is to be treated with tilak and lunch. Apart from this, the
god of death is also worshipped and venerated on this day.
Without appropriate customs and traditions, Hindu festivals, in
accordance with Indian religion, don't really convey their true meaning. Every
celebration in our nation is therefore observed with the utmost flair and
fervour.
1. The dish from which the brother is to be honoured is
tastefully—or maybe more appropriately, festively—decorated on the eve of Bhai
Dooj. Vermillion, sandal, fruits, flowers, sweets, and betel nuts are required
on the platter.
2. Use rice to mark out a square before the Tilak ceremony.
3. The brother is sat on this square while he waits for the right
moment for the sister to finish applying the tilak.
4. Before conducting an aarti on your brother, give him fruits,
betel nuts, crystallised sugar, betel leaves, and black grammes after the
Tilak.
5. After the Tilak and Aarti, the brother gives his sister a gift
and makes a lifelong promise to look out for her.
Every Hindu festival obviously has to have an enthralling background
story about it, which usually is a very feisty and sensitive affair. Similarly,
Bhai Dooj has an enthralling fable about it. This story tells a lot about the
significance and focuses a lot on its importance as well.
According to a well-known legendary account, the god of death
Yamraj visited his sister Yamuna. This visit later evolved into the Bhai Dooj
custom, which would be observed for a thousand years to come. Yam and Yami, who
were siblings, were the children of the Sun God. After persistently bugging
Yam, Yami eventually received her wish. After much pleading, her brother agreed
to pay her a visit. Yamuna made sure her brother literally "ate out of her
hands" on this particular occasion.
She prayed for him long life and put a tilak on his forehead after
lunch. Yamraj asked his sister for a blessing since he felt so loved and cared
for. Being the kind sister that she was, she responded that she only wished he
would pay her a visit each year and that any sister who performs the rites and
puts on the tilak will never have to fear Yamraj, the god of death. Yamraj was
delighted to hear his sister's lovely wish, and he blessed and complied with
it. Beginning on this day, the Bhai Dooj tradition grew in popularity and
became a phenomenon that is still practised today.
To bathe in the holy river of Yamuna is considered of great
importance as it is widely believed, if the brother and the sister take a dip
in the holy river, they achieve rewards in the form of a better life with less
troubles.
There are also more legends concerning the origins of Bhai Dooj,
one of which concerns Lord Krishna. After slaying the devil Narkasur, he was
welcomed home by his sister Subhadra with flowers, fruits, and sweets. She also
lit diyas and lavishly welcomed him. Before praying that he live for a thousand
more years, she placed a tilak on his forehead. From that moment on, it was
customary to apply tilak to the forehead of the brother in exchange for the
brother giving his sister a seductive gift.
Various names for Bhai Dooj are observed throughout our nation. Due
to our diversity and the numerous traditions we uphold, it is inevitable that
it is referred to by a variety of names depending on the region and the
language spoken there. However, one thing that does not change is the
significance that this event has for the people all throughout the country.
In West Bengal, Bhai Dooj is commonly referred to as Phota festival. On this day the sisters observe a fast and once the tilak is done,
they treat them with lunch. After the tilak, the brother gets his sister a
sweet little present.
In Maharashtra and Goa, Bhai Dooj is known as Bhao Beej. In Marathi Bhao means brother. On this eve the sister completes the tilak after which she
prays for his long life.
In UP, the sister, after applying tilak on her brother, offers him
crystallised sugar and water. It is also a custom to proffer the brother water
and dried coconut. The tradition of giving water is followed in almost every
household.
There is a somewhat peculiar tradition that is only observed in
Bihar and nowhere else. In Bihar, the sister will reprimand and even abuse her
brother on the eve of Bhai Dooj before later apologising to him. To cleanse the
brother of his previous transgressions, this is done. After performing this
ritual, the sister covers her brother with tilak and gives him candy.
Bhai Dooj is referred to as Bhai Tihar in Nepal. Tihar refers to
the tilak, a mark on the forehead that signifies the meaning of the word. In
addition, for the same reason, Bhai Dooj is often referred to as Bhai teeka.
The sister covers it with a tilak made up of seven colours, and they pray for
their brothers' long lives and good fortune.
The festival of Bhai Dooj represents the relationship between a
brother and sister. It is a bond unlike any other. Itself is so honest and
pure. It softly reminds us that in the midst of all this, good still exists,
free from all the cruel and corrupt things to which we are so accustomed today.
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