There is a unique understanding between a brother and a sister. They are the best friends of each other, protectors of each other, admirers of each other, secret sharers of each other and has unconditional love for each other.
It is difficult to decode the feelings, emotions and love between siblings. However, there are special days or occasions that are dedicated to strengthening the love between a brother and a sister. Bhaiya Dooj is one such occasion that can define the eternal love between different siblings (brother and sister). This wonderful festival is an important occasion where sisters pray to God for the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their beloved brother. The occasion occurs after the two days of the Diwali festival.
The festival Bhai Dooj is the one, that signifies the special connection between a brother and a sister. The bond which unlike any other, stands out from the rest in its own and special way. This special connection is also known as Bhai Teeka, Yam dwitiya, Bhrat dwitya etc. Bhai Dooj usually falls on the dark lunar fortnight, in the month of Kartik. This date falls right after Diwali, 2 days to be exact. On this occasion, the sister’s apply a tilak and pray for the long life for their brothers. The Brother returns the favour by bringing her presents and gifts for all the toils the sister does for him. On Bhai Dooj, people venerate and worship the god of death Yamraj. As per the traditional beliefs, the god of death Yamraj was on hand to answer her sister’s call as he paid her a visit for lunch.
Customs and Vidhi’s about Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of the dark lunar fortnight. It’s calculation can be done by any of the following methods.
1. As per the scriptures, if the the second day of the dark lunar fortnight of the Kartik month lies in the fourth quarter of the day, then we celebrate Bhai Dooj on this date. If on both days Dwitiya tithi touched afternoon, then Bhai dooj should be celebrated on the next day. Other than this, if on both the days, Dwitiya tithi does not seem to touch the afternoon, even then we celebrate Bhai Dooj on the next day itself.
2. As per other beliefs, if on a Kartik dark lunar fortnight, the pratipada tithi touches the evening, then Bhai Dooj is celebrated. Although this belief is not said to be very accurate.
3. On the afternoon of Bhai Dooj, the brother is to be treated with tilak and lunch. Apart from this, the god of death is also worshipped and venerated on this day.
The Rituals and the Puja Vidhi to be followed on Bhai Dooj
According to the Indian religion, without proper custom and traditions, the Hindu festivals don’t really give out the vibes about them. For this very reason, every festival in our country is celebrated with utmost panache and exuberance.
1. On the eve of Bhai Dooj, the plate from which the brother is to be worshipped is decorated appropriately or should we say festively. The plate has to have vermillion, sandal, fruits, flowers, sweets and, betel nut.
2. Before the Tilak ceremony takes place, chalk out a square with rice.
3. On this very square, the brother is seated as he waits for the auspicious timing, when the sister finally applies the tilak.
4. Post Tilak give fruits, betel nut, crystallized sugar, betel leaf, black grams to your brother before performing an aarti on him.
5. Once the Tilak and Aarti is done, the brother presents his sister with a gift before taking a vow to protect her for life.
The Legend associated with Bhai Dooj
Every Hindu festival obviously has to have an enthralling background story about it, which usually is a very feisty and sensitive affair. Similarly, Bhai Dooj has an enthralling fable about it. This story tells a lot about the significance and focuses a lot on its importance as well.
The Saga of Yam and Yami
According to a famous mythological chronicle, the god of death Yamraj gave his sister, Yamuna a visit, which later became the tradition of Bhai Dooj, that would be followed for a thousand of years to come. The children of Sun God were Yam and Yami, who were brother and sister. After pestering Yam countless of times, Yami finally got her wish fulfilled. Her brother finally gave in to her demands and paid her a visit. On this occasion, Yamuna made sure that her brother ate out of her hands in the most literal of senses.
After lunch she applied a tilak on his forehead, and prayed for his long life. Being on the receiving end of such affection and love, Yamraj asked his sister for a boon. The sweet sister that she was, she replied that she just wishes that he visits her every year and any sister who does the rituals and applies the tilak shall not ever fear the god of death Yamraj. Hearing the sweet wish of his sister Yamraj was very pleased as he blessed his sister and granted her wish. From this day, the tradition of Bhai Dooj picked up and it became a phenomena which would be followed till the present day.
To bathe in the holy river of Yamuna is considered of great importance as it is widely believed, if the brother and the sister take a dip in the holy river, they achieve rewards in the form of a better life with less troubles.
The Tale of Krishna and Subhadra
As far as other stories go about how we started to celebrate Bhai Dooj, one such tale involves Lord Krishna. When he returned home after killing the devil Narkasur, his sister (Subhadra) welcomed him with flowers,fruits and sweets. She also lit up diyas and gave him an exquisite welcome. She applied a tilak on his forehead before praying that he lives on for a thousand more years. From that day onwards, it became a custom to apply tilak on the forehead of the brother and in return the brother presents his sister with an alluring gift.
History
According to Hindu mythology, Bhai Dooj is celebrated to commemorate Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra’s loving gesture toward her brother. After Lord Krishna defeated Narakasur, Subhadra invited her brother to celebrate his victory, she applied tilak on his forehead and performed aarti, Lord Krishna was so pleased by his sister’s gestures that he blessed her with plentiful boons. According to another story, the festival is associated with Yamraj and his sister Yamuna, and is also called Yama Dwitiya.
Significance and Importance
On this day, women across India invite their brothers and teeka’ or ’tilak’ on their foreheads and pray to god for long and prosperous lives for their brothers. This ‘teeka’ or ‘tilak’ signifies the sister’s sincerest prayers for the long and happy life of her brother and treats them with gifts.
The Story Of Bhai Dooj
For Hindus, the story behind each festival play a very important role in the formation of their culture and have a very deep significance and values. Most of the Indian festivals are attached to specific characters and personalities that helps the masses to understand and know the true significance of the festival. Just like all important Indian Festivals, Bhai dooj also has a story to follow that have carved a niche with its unique presence and strength.
Through generations, the story of Bhai Dooj has been passed from generation to generation either by word of mouth or through carefully stored scriptures. The narration of the story marks the end of the Bhai dooj puja. Once the various rituals of Bhai dooj such as the sister applying the teeka on the forehead of the brother, giving him the eatables and in return receiving the gifts are over, the women and children sit around, to hear the story behind Bhai Dooj from the elders of the family.
The story goes that once there was a family living in a village that had only a sister and a brother. The sister was very elder to her brother, thus when she got married, the brother was at a very tender age. The boy did not remembered any thing about his sister's marriage. After the marriage, the sister never returned to her mother's home. As the brother grew up, the image of her sister started fading with each passing years. He terribly missed his sister, especially on the Bhai Dooj day, as he used to see his friends with teeka on their forehead and plates full of sweets.
On one particular Bhai dooj, when the boy had turned up into a handsome young boy, he inquired his mother about the reason as to why his sister never visited her original home after her marriage. The mother replied that she does not come because there is a big forest between this village and the one in which she lives and there is a big river flowing in between. One has to cross the river by boat and then there are wild animals which fill people with so much terror, that many people do not travel through the forest.
Inspite of knowing the immense difficulty he will have to face, the young brother decided to visit his sister on the next Bhai dooj day. The mother reminded him again of the dangers, but he did not listen, and so it was decided that he would go and visit her. When the time came she told him to tell his sister that she should now come over and choose a suitable bride for him.
The boy set off and on his way he faced the rising level of river, which made it impossible for him to cross the road. There was also the danger of snakes. The boy requested the river not to drown him and told the snakes that they can bite him on his return journey, after he meets his only sister. The snake agreed, and the boy proceeded. Now, he came to a mountain, which started through big stones on him, and he again pleaded with it to let him go. The mountain also agreed. When the boy was near his sister's village, a big tiger appeared and decided to eat him up. He also pleaded to the tiger and promised him that the tiger can feed on him on his return journey.
The poor boy knew now that is days were numbered, still, he eagerly went along to meet his only sister. He entered the house, and saw that she was doing the Bhai Dooj puja. The sister on seeing him after such a long time, welcomed her brother with a smile and embraced him. She at once brought lovely fruits and sweet meats to eat. She set about preparing kheer, puri, kachori, and lots of other tasty items. When her husband came after work, both of them provided a very enjoyable and memorable time to the young lad, so that he was full of joy.
Days passed, and it was time for the brother to take leave of his sister and brother-in-law. Before returning back, the brother narrated the whole incident to his sister and told her that his days were numbered and that he is soon going to die. The sister was shocked, but she decided to accompany him for the return journey. She secretly packed some meat for the tiger, some milk for the snake, flowers of silver and gold for the mountain and some roli and rice for the river.
Soon they were on their way and, of course, the tiger came first to eat up the brother. The sister gave him the meat and he went his way. Then came the mountain, which wanted to fall on her brother. She quickly performed puja with the gold and silver flowers and the mountain was very pleased with the offerings and stopped falling. Then it was the turn of the snake, and it was given the milk, and went away satisfied. They now reached the river and as was expected, it started to rise, but the sister subdued it by doing puja with roli and rice, and the river went down
How Bhai Dooj fares in different states
Bhai Dooj is celebrated by different names in different parts of our country. Due to the diversity that we have and the different traditions that we harbour, it becomes impairable that it is called out by quite many names depending upon the region & the language spoken in that region but one thing that does not changes is the gravity that this festival holds in the hearts of the people all across the nation.
Bhai Dooj in West Bengal
In West Bengal, Bhai Dooj is commonly referred to as Phota festival. On this day the sisters observe a fast and once the tilak is done, they treat them with lunch. After the tilak, the brother gets his sister a sweet little present.
Bhai Dooj in Maharashtra
In Maharashtra and Goa, Bhai Dooj is known as Bhao Beej. In Marathi Bhao means brother. On this eve the sister completes the tilak after which she prays for his long life.
Bhai Dooj in Uttar Pradesh
In UP, the sister, after applying tilak on her brother, offers him crystallised sugar and water. It is also a custom to proffer the brother water and dried coconut. The tradition of giving water is followed in almost every household.
Bhai Dooj in Bihar
There is quite an unusual custom which is followed only in Bihar and nowhere else. In Bihar on the eve of Bhai Dooj, the sister scolds her brother and even abuses him if you like and later apologises to him. This is done to absolve the brother from his past sins. After this custom has taken place, the sister applies tilak and offers sweets to the brother.
Bhai Dooj in Nepal
In Nepal, Bhai Dooj is known by the name of Bhai Tihar. The meaning of tihar is tilak which is denoted by a mark on the forehead. Apart from this, Bhai Dooj is also called Bhai teeka for the same reason. On this the sister applies a tilak which comprises of seven colors and they pray for the long and prosperous life for their brothers.
The Festival Bhai Dooj signifies the bond that is shared by a brother and sister. It is a bond like nothing else. So pure and so true in itself. It is devoid of all the vicious and the corrupt things that we are so accustomed to nowadays as it gently reminds us that in the midst of all this, good things and silver linings, actually exists.
