9 Interesting facts on Bhai Dooj Celebration!
3 min readJul 8, 2021
This year we observed the Bhai Dooj on 16th November 2020. This is the 5th-day celebration and marks the end of Diwali. Bhai Dooj consists of two words i.e. Bhai = Brother, Dooj = 2nd Day after the Amavasya (dark moon). This is the festival of love and loving bond between brother and sister.
Let’s see some amazing facts about this festival:
- It is the festival of love that shows the strong bond between brother and sister.
- Meaning of Bhai Dooj is, Bhai = Brother and Dooj =2nd day.
- It is a Hindu festival, celebrated on the 5th day of Diwali celebrations and mark the end of Diwali. It is celebrated on the Shukla paksha of Karthik month.
- In Nepal, after Vijaya Dashmi, Bhai Dooj is celebrated as the second most important festival.
- It is said that in History:
- Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra’s place after defeating Asura Narkasur and she gave warm welcome to and applied tilak on Lord Krishna’s forehead.
- It is also believed that Lord Yama met his sister Yami and she applied the auspicious mark on the forehead and prayed for his well-being.
- On this day Lord Mahavir attained Moksha and his brother King, Nandivardhan was distressed because Mahavir left the Kingdom.
- There are different names given to this festival according to the geographical regional:
- In West Bengal, this festival is known as Bhai Phota where sisters offer prayers to Yamraj and chants mantras.
- In Gujarat, Maharastra, Goa (Konkani), and Karnataka it is known as Bhai Beej or Bhau Beej or Bhai Bij.
- In Manipur, it is known as Ningol Chakuba.
- Other names for this festival are Bhatru Dhwithiya or Bhatri Ditya. It is also called Yama Divitiya, wherein Yama (God of death) and his sister Yami met
- Other names for this festival are Bhatru Dhwithiya or Bhatri Ditya. It is also called Yama Divitiya, wherein Yama (God of death) and his sister Yami met.
- This festival shows the responsibility of a brother towards their sister and they promise to their sister to always protect them from every situation.
Rituals are:
- Arti is performed by sisters for their brothers.
- Apply an auspicious tilak or a vermilion mark on their brother’s forehead.
- During Bhai Dooj sisters pray for their brother’s long life and prosperity and brother’s gifts sister’s with gifts. A beautiful celebration to strengthen the bond between brother and sister.