Bhaj Dooj 2021
What is Bhai Dooj?
Bhai dooj is an Indian festival, which celebrates the bond of love between a brother and sister. It is known by different names in different states like Bhai Dooj (Northern India), Bhai Tika (Nepal), Bhai Phonta (Bengal), Bhai Jiuntia(Odisha), Bhau Beej (Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat). In southern states it is celebrated as Yama Dwitiya.
When is it celebrated?
Bhai Dooj is celebrated by Hindus on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Kartik. It is majorly celebrated two days after Diwali. In 2021 it will be celebrated on 6th November.
How is it celebrated?
Bhai Dooj is a very auspicious day which is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm among Hindu families. On this day brothers visit their sisters (or vice versa) and sisters apply tika on the forehead of their brothers, do aarti and offer them sweets and other delicacies. In return brothers offer their sisters gifts and money. During the ritual, the sisters pray to God for the longevity, happiness, prosperity and good health of their dear brothers. They pray to the Lord that their brothers be protected from all evils and misfortune. Brothers also take vow for caring, loving and protecting their sisters. In some parts of India sisters offer ‘gola’ or dry coconut to their brothers. To make the festival more sacred and joyful, Prernamurti Bharti Shriji suggests that sisters should pray to the long living saints (Chiranjivi) like Hanuman, Kripacharya, Ashwatthama, Parashurama, Vibhishana, Ved Vyasa, Markandeya, Bali, Vibhishana for the long life of their brothers. Brothers also apply tika on their sister's forehead and pray that their sister should have a strong character, may she be protected in all ways and become courageous and fearless.
The sisters, whose brothers live far away, and who cannot visit them, send their prayers for the wellbeing of their brothers through the moon God. They perform the arti of the moon God. Even those sisters who do not have brothers can pray to the moon God. This is one of the reasons why Chand or moon is also called Chanda mama in Hindu families.
Why is Bhai Dooj celebrated ? / The Cultural Significance of Bhai Dooj :-
The festival is regarded to have its origin during the time period of Lord Krishna. It is believed that after killing demon Naraksura, Lord Krishna went to his sister Subhadra, who greeted him with love and offered sweets and flowers. She then applied tika on Lord Krishna's forehead. This is considered to be the origin of the festival by many. According to another legend, the God of death Yama could not meet his sister Yamuna for a long time. When he finally went to meet her, it was on the second day of the new moon i.e., Dwitiya. He was greeted very warmly by her in a grand ceremony. She served him with lots of delicacies and applied tika on his forehead. Yamraj was overjoyed with his sister’s behavior and he gave her a variety of gifts. While leaving he asked Yamuna to ask for any boon or blessing. Yamuna said ‘if you are happy with me then make a promise to meet me every year and accept my hospitality. In addition any brother who visits her sister on this day and accepts her greetings and gifts her in return, may he also be blessed by you’. Yamraj accepted this emotional appeal of his sister Yamuna and this led to the celebration of the day as ‘Yama Dwitiya’.
The Bhai Dooj festival is similar in sentiments as Rakshabandhan, with slight differences in the rituals. The festival reveres the bond of love between brothers and sisters. This relationship is special as brothers and sisters are each other’s friends, best critic, well-wisher and confidants. They share a unique connection which has all emotional flavors including friendly banters and unconditional love for each other. The festival of Bhai Dooj is dedicated to celebrate, strengthen and respect this eternal bond of love between brothers and sisters.
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Happy Bhai Dooj 2021!
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Celebrate Bhai Dooj with all the rituals to get fully benefitted from it!
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