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Bhai Duj, also known as Bhaiya Dooj, is a Hindu festival celebrated in India and Nepal that symbolizes the love and bond between brothers and sisters. It falls on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika, which typically occurs between October and November in the Gregorian calendar, two days after Diwali, the festival of lights.
The origins of Bhai Duj are rooted in Hindu mythology. One popular legend says that after defeating the demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who welcomed him with an aarti, sweets, and flowers. She also applied a ceremonial tilak on his forehead to celebrate victory and their sibling bond. This ritual is believed to have laid the foundation for the festival.
On Bhai Duj, sisters perform aarti for their brothers and apply a tilak or tika (a sacred mark) on their foreheads as a mark of protection from evil forces and to pray for their long life. In return, brothers offer gifts to their sisters as a token of love and appreciation.
The rituals may vary regionally but generally include:
On Bhai Duj, families come together to celebrate sibling love. Brothers visit their sisters' homes where they are treated with delicacies prepared by the sisters. The day is marked with joyous family gatherings, sharing meals, gifting clothes or other items of need or desire, and reaffirming commitment towards each other's well-being.
In some regions where distance makes personal meetings difficult, siblings may send gifts via postal services or couriers as a symbol of their affection. Nowadays it's common for siblings to use digital means like phone calls or video chats to connect if they're unable to meet in person.
Bhai Duj emphasizes the strong familial ties within Indian culture and reinforces the importance attributed to family values.
