Bhaiya Dooj also known as Bhai Dooj is an ancient Hindu festival that celebrates the eternal love that brothers and sisters share. It is a part of the Diwali festivities and is celebrated two days after the festival of lights. The name of the festival is derived from two words namely Bhai meaning brother and Dooj meaning the second day.
The name signifies the fact that the festival is dedicated to brothers and is celebrated on the second day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. On this day, it is customary for brothers to visit the house of their married sisters. The sisters prepare various dishes to welcome their brothers and shower love on them. They also pray for the long life and prosperity of their brothers.
The brothers also present their sisters with several gifts to express their affection towards them. It is said that celebrating this festival protects brothers and sisters from the evil eye and fills their lives with new hope and prosperity.
As the name suggests, the festival Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond of eternal love and friendship between a brother and a sister. It is marked by the sharing of food, exchange of gifts, and strengthening of love between the siblings. Traditionally, this festival is more important for brothers whose sisters have been married off, although unmarried sisters also celebrate it with equal zeal and fervor.
The most common legend associated with the celebration of Bhai Dooj is as follows. It is said that a long time ago, the Sun God Surya was married to the extremely beautiful princess Sangya. In time the couple gave birth to the twins Yama and Yamuna. The twins grew together and shared a deep bond of love and care.
Meanwhile, Sangya unable to bear the glare of Surya any longer, left her home secretly. However, she left behind her shadow, Chhaya to take her place in the heavenly abode. Unfortunately, Chhaya turned out to be a cruel stepmother. She even convinced Surya to evict Yama and Yamuna from their home. Consequently, the siblings were separated as Yamuna became the holy river after falling to the Earth.
At the same time, Yama set up his abode in the underworld as the Lord of Death. As time passed, Yamuna married a handsome prince, although she constantly missed her brother. Even though Yama also felt the same, he was unable to spare the time to visit his sister. However, one year Yamuna sought a promise from her brother that he would visit her two days after Diwali.
Excited at the prospect of seeing her brother after such a long time, Yamuna prepared several dishes to welcome him. On the appointed day, Yama visited her sister’s home and was delighted by the warm welcome she gave him. The siblings spent a pleasant evening together, at the end of which Yama asked Yamuna to seek any boon from him. Yamuna then wished for all brothers to visit their sisters on this day.
She also wished for the sisters to pray for the happiness and prosperity of their brothers by applying a tilak of vermilion mixed with rice on their foreheads. Yama granted the boon and parted from his sister after presenting her with numerous gifts. From then on this day came to be celebrated as Bhai Dooj and it is believed that brothers and sisters who pray for each other on this day do not have the fear of Yama.
The festival is known by different names in different parts of India. It is also celebrated in different ways across the length and breadth of the country.
In West Bengal, the festival is known as Bhai Phota and it is customary for sisters to observe a fast for their brothers on this day. When their brothers come to their home, the sisters perform an arti and apply a tilak made from kajal and sandalwood on their foreheads.
In Maharashtra, the day is celebrated as Bhau Beej festival and the rituals associated with it are quite different. When the brothers visit their sisters' house, they are made to sit in a square that their sisters make on the floor. Then the sisters perform the aarti and apply tilak on their brothers' foreheads. After this, they eat the traditional fruit named karit while praying for the long life and prosperity of their brothers.
In Bihar, Bhai dooj is celebrated in a completely unique manner. On this day the sisters prick the tongue of their brothers as a form of punishment. They then curse and abuse them as opposed to showering them with love and blessings. However, it is customary for the brothers to bless their sisters and present them with gifts.
In Haryana, girls without a brother have a special way of celebrating this festival. Such girls tie the kalawa on a coconut around its width. They then offer this coconut to the god while performing aarti. This ritual signifies that God is the brother and protector of such girls.
In Uttar Pradesh, sisters first tie a piece of cloth filled with batashas circularly. They then present this cloth, known as "abaf" to their brothers. It is only then that they do the various rituals and apply a tilak made of roli and rice on the foreheads of their brothers.
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