Bhai Dooj. is one of the major festivals of India, it is also spelt as Bhaidooj, Bhaiduj or Bhai Duj. ‘Bhai’ means brother and ‘Dooj’ means two days after new moon, this festival is celebrated between brothers and sisters other than Raksha Bandhan to strengthen the bond of their love. On this auspicious day, sisters put Tilak on their brother’s forehead and pray for their long life. In return, brother promises their sisters to stand by their side in all hardships of life. This is the most awaited festivals in India. Every year this festival comes two days after Diwali in Karthik month.
According to the custom and rituals sister applying tika on the forehead of the sister, giving him eatables and in return receive gifted, the women and children sit around and hear the story.
India is a country of varied cultures, customs and traditions. The festival of Bhaiya Dooj is known by various names in different regions and has its own regional name that signifies different ceremonial celebrated connotations.
- 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.
- Bhai Bij, Bhaubeej or Bhav Bij amongst the Marathi speaking community in the states of Maharashtra and Goa. As like Bhaidooj festival celebrations in rest of India, Bhai Bij, Bhaubeej or Bhav Bij falls on the last day of five-day-long Diwali festival, here also in western India in Bhaubeej festival sisters pray for their brothers long and happy life as they perform tika ceremony.
- Yamadwitheya is from the legend of god Yama Raja (the Hindu mythological god of Death)himself and it is one of the most commonly told story of Bhai Dooj. Here, the story told as after Yama Raaj long separation from his sister Yamuna or Yami. On the Dwitheya or the Dooj or the second day of the new moon When Yami met his brother Yama (also know as Dharam Raj) and welcomed whole heartedly, applied red tilak on his brother’s forehead and treated him a special meal. Yamaraj was overwhelmed receiving the warm welcome from his sister and he announced that whosoever receives a red tika from his sister on the day of ‘Dooj’ will not be hurled to hell. Since that day Bhai Dooj is also known as Yamadwitheya.
In 2010, Bhai Dooj festival is celebrated on 7th November (Sunday)
Toshali Travel and Tours offers budget festival Holiday packages and arranges exclusive accommodation for Bhai Dooj festival on demand, click on http://bit.ly/aphUEF. Toshali Travel and Tours is authorised Travel and Tour Operator, recognized and accredited by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
To know more on the Bhai Dooj festival, post you comments or Contact our Toshali Holiday Planner at metu@toshali.in Do post your comment and suggestions, if you feel we have left out any information that would be helpful for your friends, family members. Also share this blog with Facebook, Twitter, Orkut and other Social Networking sites….