Why is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
Bhai Dooj happens after the five-day celebration of Diwali. It is celebrated in order to honor the love shared between a brother and a sister. It has similarities with Rakshabandhan. During Bhai Dooj, brothers go to visit the homes of their sisters and give them gifts to mark the occasion.
At the time of this festival, sisters draw a tilak on the forehead of their brothers, and they make prayers so that their brothers can live a healthy life. Below, we will look into more details of why Bhai Dooj is celebrated?
Why is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
Bhai Dooj is also known as Bhai Tika. It celebrates the bond that siblings share with each other. Brothers and sisters celebrate Bhai Dooj on ‘Shukla Paksha’ on the second lunar day.
In the Southern parts of India, Bhai Dooj is celebrated in the form of Yama Dwitiya. During this festival, sisters invite their brothers to their homes and prepare their favorite meals and desserts. The celebration signifies a brother’s duty towards his sister and the sister’s blessings for her brother. When this festival is held, brothers offer money and gifts to their sisters, and the latter put a tika on their brother.
Significance of Bhai Dooj
We have discussed why Bhai Dooj is celebrated, and now we will look at the significance of this festival. The term 'Bhai' refers to a brother, and 'Dooj' stands for the celebration on the second day after the appearance of the new moon. Apart from celebrating the bond between a brother and a sister, this occasion also guards the siblings against the evil forces of nature. This way, it paves the way for prosperity and peace in their lives.
In different parts of India, people have various kinds of folklores and rituals associated with the festival. At times, elders tell the stories of these myths to the young children, which is how the festivities begin.
History of Bhai Dooj
As per the old Hindu scriptures, Goddess Yami or Yamuna had a deep love for her brother, Lord Yamraj. Since they had been away from each other for a long time, Lord Yamraj's sister, Goddess Yamuna, longed to see him. She became happy when her brother visited her on the second day after the festival of Holi.
She put a tilak on the forehead of her brother, Lord Yamraj, and cooked his favorite foods for him. In addition, she also made a prayer for his healthy and long life. Lord Yamraj adored this gesture of his sister. That is when Goddess Yamuna asks her brother to visit her each year, and she marks that occasion by putting tilak on her brother's forehead. She also said that any sister who puts a tika on the forehead of her brother would be able to protect her brother from Lord Yamraj with her love.
How does one celebrate Bhai Dooj?
As the sister offers her blessings to her brother, similarly, the brother makes an oath to protect his sister as long as he remains alive. During Bhai Dooj, sisters not only apply tika on the forehead of their brothers but also perform an aarti. It is how they pray for the long life and well-being of their brothers.
On the evening of Bhai Dooj, sisters make delicious food items for their brother and other sweetmeats. Sisters also send an invitation to their brothers to visit their homes for this special occasion. They also make space near the house temple with some rice and flour where their brothers sit.
When the brother arrives, the sister puts a tika of vermillion on the forehead of her brother and performs aarti. Though it is not always compulsory, sometimes sisters also fast on this day to pray to the gods and goddesses for the long life of their brother. Sometimes brothers and sisters also exchange the following gifts.
Chocolates
If you and your sibling are chocolate lovers, you can surprise them with chocolates on this special occasion. It will enable you to bring a smile to their face.
Cakes
Cakes are everyone's favorite, and no one can refuse a tempting piece of cake. For this reason, you can gift your sibling with their favorite flavor of the cake.
Flowers
Flowers are unique gifts, and they come with a refreshing fragrance. So, if you are confused regarding what to gift your brother or sister on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, you can give them a customized bouquet of flowers.
Teddies
If your brother and sister are younger than you and if they are a fan of teddy bears, then gifting your sibling a teddy bear will be perfect for celebrating this occasion.
How is it different from Rakshabandhan?
Bhai Dooj and Rakshabandhan are celebrated at different times of the year. For instance, Bhai Dooj is celebrated during October and November, and Rakshabandhan is celebrated during the month of August. In Bhai Dooj, sisters perform aarti and put a tika on their brother's forehead to give them their blessings and pray for their long life. On the other hand, during Rakshabandhan, sisters put and tie a sacred thread on the wrist of their brother. At the time of Bhai Dooj, sisters bless their brother with a healthy and prosperous life.
How is Bhai Dooj celebrated in different Indian states?
Bhai Dooj is celebrated as 'Yama Dwithiya' in Bihar, 'Bhau Beej' in Maharashtra, 'Bhai Phonta' in West Bengal, and 'Bhai Tika' in Nepal.
Bottom line
To conclude and answer the question- Why is Bhai Dooj celebrated? We can say that it is to mark the occasion where sisters pray for a healthy and long life for their brothers.
