Bhai Dooj is being celebrated every year to mark the bond between brothers and sisters. And the fifth and last day of Diwali festival is Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day (Dooj) of Shukla Paksha, the setting phase of the moon, in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. Usually, this festival comes after Diwali.
How is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
Bhai Dooj, like Raksha Bandhan, celebrates the special bond between sisters and brothers. On this day sisters invite their brothers for a sumptuous meal and perform ’tilak’ ceremony. And they pray for their brother’s long and happy life while brothers give gifts to their sisters.
Continuing the ceremony in the traditional style, sisters perform the aarti of their brother and apply red tika on the brother’s forehead. This Tika ceremony on the occasion of Bhai Bij signifies the sincere prayer of the sister for the long and happy life of her brother and treats him with gifts.
Tying a Rakhi symbolizes a brother’s promise to protect and protect his sister from all evil forces. On Bhai Dooj, the sister takes a pledge to protect her brother from any evil at all costs by applying a tika on her brother’s forehead.
Other names of Bhai Dooj
It is interesting to note that though it is celebrated all over India, it is known by different names in some parts of the country. The festival is known as Ningol Chakouba in Manipur and Bhau Beej in the Konkan region. It is called Bhai Phota in West Bengal, Bhau Dij in Maharashtra and Goa, Bhai Tika and Bhai Tihar in Nepal.
Is Bhai Dooj a public holiday?
Bhai Dooj is an optional holiday. Employment and leave laws in India allow employees to choose a limited number of holidays from a list of optional holidays. Therefore, Some employees may choose to take a holiday on this day, however, most offices and businesses remain open.
Bhai Dooj
Wishing all the brothers and sisters a very Happy Bhai Dooj. May God bless your relationship with happiness, understanding and lots of love. May each day of your life be filled with happiness and festivities.
