This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on 29th October.
Bhai Dooj is an important Hindu festival during which sisters pray to the gods for long and healthy, happy lives for their brothers and celebrate their special bond. It is celebrated two days after the popular festival of Diwali.
On this day, sisters invite their brothers home and apply ’tilak’ on their foreheads and offer prayers to the gods and the brothers present their sisters with gifts.
According to mythology, Yamraj, the God of Death, visited his sister on this day. His sister Yami, who is also known as Yamuna, welcomed him with an aarti and after applying tilak on his forehead, offered him sweets. In return, he presented her with a gift that signified his love and affection towards her.
Yamraj then said that any brother who would receive an aarti and tilak from his sister on this auspicious day would never be afraid of death.
Another popular story behind the festival is that Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra welcomed him with an aarti, tilak, sweets and flowers after he killed the demon king Narakasur.
Bhai Dooj is commonly celebrated as it marks and cherishes the thread of love, care and compassion between sisters and brothers across the country.