Bhai Dooj

Nowhere in the world, the bond of  affection between brother & sister is glorified in such grandeur as in Bharat. 

We celebrate this special bond twice every year, with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj.

Bhai Dooj is celebrated on second Day of Shukl Paksh of Kartik month which is also fifth day of celebrations of Diwali which starts with Dhanteras.  Dooj means second day of new moon.

On this auspicious day sisters all over Bharat make a wish to Yam devta for long life & good health of their brothers by putting an auspicious tilak on their forehead and also perform aarti by showing them light of the holy flame.

In turn Sisters are lavished with gifts, goodies and blessings from their brothers.

After these rituals both brother & sister share a meal cooked lovingly by sister with her own hands. This ritual deepen the bond of affection between brothers & sisters. 

Once upon a time, long long ago, Surya, the sun God, was married to a beautiful princess Sangya. In the course of a year, she presented him with twins Yama and her sister Varni. Sangys went to earth leaving behind her clone named Chaya who cunningly forced Surya to drive out Samjna’s twins from the heavens. Varni fell to earth and became the river Yamuna, and Yama went underworld and became the God of Death.

Many years passed since this incident. Varni missed her brother and yearned to see him. Yama, too, missed his sister and decided one day to visit her. Overjoyed by news of her brother's visit, Varni prepared a great feast including all the sweets and delicacies that her brother loved in his honor. It was two days into Deepavali, so her home was already decorated with lamps. She lovingly prepared a feast.

Yama, too, was delighted by his sister's loving welcome, and the brother and sister spent a pleasant time in each other's company. 

When it was time for Yama to leave, he turned to his sister and said,

"Dear Varni, you have welcomed me so lovingly. But I did not bring you a gift. Ask, therefore, for something and it will be yours."

Varni, taking a moment to think said "I ask that all brother's should remember their sisters on this day and visit them if they can, and that, on this day, all sisters should pray for the happiness of their brothers & prepare feast for them."

To fulfil his sisters request Yama proclaimed , "And I grant long & healthy life to all brothers who meet their sister on this day, get her divine Tilak on their forehead, feast together & also give their sisters a loving gift"

Shubh Muhurat for Bhai Dooj in 2014 

Bhai Dooj Tika Time on 25 October 2014 (Saturday) Dwitiya Tithi if Kartik month Begins at 03:47 am on 25 October 2014 and ends at 03:39 am on 26 October 2014.