🌼 Bhai Dooj 🌼

💐Rituals and Traditions of bhai dooj 💐

 
                       The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated across the country in a traditional way. On the occasion, sisters make a seat for their brothers using rice flour. Once the brother sits on the seat, a paste of vermillion, dahi and rice is applied on the forehead of the brothers as a religious tika. 

  
                       Thereafter, the sister places a flower of Kaddu, betel leaves, betel nuts and coins in the palms of the brother and pour water on it while chanting mantras. Once this is done, a Kalawa is tied on the wrist of the brother and the aarti is performed. The next ritual is to exchange gifts among each and take the blessings of the elders. 

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🍀Origin, Meaning and Significance of Bhaiya Dooj: 🍀

                                  Origin- Bhaiya Dooj/Bhai Dooj, Bhau-Beej/Bhai Phonta is a festival which is celebrated among Hindus of India, Nepal and other countries on the second lunar day of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the Kartika month of Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar. The occasion falls on the last day of the five-day long celebrations of Diwali or Tihar festival. It is also celebrated as “Yama Dwitiya” in the southern parts of India. 

  
                                 There are few Hindu mythological based stories related to the origin of this auspicious day. According to the one legend, Lord Krishna visited his sister, Subhadra after killing demon Narkasur. Her sister gave a warm welcome to him and made the occasion really special through flowers and sweets. Subhadra also applied the ceremonial “tilak” on the forehead of her brother, Krishna and hence the festival of “Bhai Dooj” was born from there. 

  
                                Another legend revolves around the story of Yama, the God of Death and his sister Yamuna. It is believed that he met his beloved sister on Dwitheya, the second day after the new moon and thus the occasion began to be celebrated as “Yamadwitheya” or “Yamadvitiya” across the country from that day. 

  
                                 Meaning and Significance- The festival of Bhai Dooj has a literal meaning attached to it. It is made up of two words namely- “Bhai” meaning brother and “Dooj” meaning the second day after the new moon which is a day of its celebration. 

  
                                   The day holds special significance in the lives of a brother and a sister. It is an auspicious occasion that celebrates the strong bonding between two opposite sex siblings. Sisters invite their brothers to visit their place and prepare their beloved dishes for them. Sisters also pray to God for the well-being and longevity of their brothers against all the evils and bad fortune. In return, brothers follow their responsibilities of caring for and loving their sisters. 

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🌻 Celebration of Bhai Dooj in Different States 🌻 

                    The festival is celebrated throughout the country, there are slight variations in the celebration of Bhai Dooj. Listed below are the celebrations of the festival in some states of the country. Read on to know more: 

  
Maharashtra – In the state, the festival is known as ‘Bhav Bij’. As part of the sibling celebration, brothers are made to sit on the floor where sisters draw a square and consume a bitter fruit known as Karith. Thereafter, sisters apply tilak on the forehead of their brothers and perform the aarti and offer prayers for the welfare of the siling. 

  
West Bengal – In West Bengal, the festival is known as ‘Bhai Phonta’. The festival includes a number of rituals. On the day, sisters observe a fast until the ceremony is completed. Sisters apply a tilak on the forehead of her brothers that is made of sandalwood, kajal and ghee before offering prayers for the well-being. A grand feast is organised on the occasion. 

  
Bihar – The celebration of Bhai Dooj in Bihar is quite different than in other parts of the country. Here, sisters hurl curses and abuses for their brothers on the occasion before pricking their tongues as a punishment and asking for forgiveness. In return, brothers bless them and offer them gifts. 

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🌺 bhai booj Story 🌺

                           
Story of Yam-Yamuna 

  
                      According to the scriptures, Lord Surya Narayan and Sangya had two children – one son Yamraj and the other daughter Yamuna. But a time came when Sangya, unable to bear the brightness of the Sun, started living as a shadow in the North Pole. Due to which Tapti River and Shanidev were born. After settling in the North Pole, there was a difference in the behavior of Sangya (shadow) with Yam and Yamuna. Distressed by this, Yam established his city Yampuri. Yamuna, on the other hand, would be sad to see her brother Yam punishing the sinners in Yampuri, so she started living in Golok, but both Yam and Yamuna had a lot of affection between the brother and sister. 

  
                            Time kept passing like this, then suddenly one day Yam remembered his sister Yamuna. Yamraj loved his sister Yamuna very much, but due to work he was not able to go to meet his sister. Then on the day of Kartik Shukla Paksha Dwitiya, Yamuna invited brother Yamraj for food and made him commit to come to her house. In such a situation, Yamraj thought that I am the one who takes away lives. No one wants to invite me to their home. It is my duty to follow the good intentions with which my sister is inviting me. While coming to his sister’s house, Yamraj freed the creatures living in hell. Yamuna was overjoyed to see Yamraj coming to her home. 

Yamuna had asked for a boon 

  
                                After bathing, Yamuna worshipped Yamraj and served delicious food to him. Yamraj was pleased with this hospitality shown by Yamuna and ordered his sister to ask for a boon. Then Yamuna said, ‘O Bhadra! You should come to my house every year on this day and the sister who, like me, respects her brother and applies tilak to him on this day, should not be afraid of you.’ Saying ‘Tathastu’, Yamraj gave Yamuna invaluable clothes and ornaments and left for Yamlok. Since then, the tradition of celebrating this festival has been going on on this day. That is why it is believed that on the day of Bhai Dooj, one must worship Yamraj and Yamuna. 

Story of Lord Shri Krishna and Subhadra: 
  

                       According to another legend, Lord Shri Krishna returned to Dwarka on the day of Bhai Dooj after killing the demon Narakasura. On this day, Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra welcomed him with fruits, flowers, sweets and many lit lamps. Subhadra applied tilak on Lord Shri Krishna’s forehead and wished him a long life. From this day onwards, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak on the forehead of their brothers and in return, brothers give them gifts. 

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💐Conclusion 💐
              

                                Every female in our country celebrates Bhai Dooj to demonstrate her support and compassion for their brother. On this day, all of the sisters pray to God for a lifetime of happiness for their brother. It is widely believed as the Yamuna received this promise from his brother Yamraj that only by celebrating Bhai Dooj can one be relieved of Yamraj’s fear and even that love or feeling between brother and sister are increased. In exchange, brothers lavishly shower their sisters with presents. The Bhai Dooj holiday, like Rakshabandhan, strengthens the brother-sister bond.

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