Bhai Dooj: Date and All You Need to Know About History, Significance, and Celebrations

According to Hindu customs, Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhai Tika, celebrates the very bond of love and protection between siblings. It falls 2 days after Deepawali.

You must agree that there is a unique understanding between a brother and a sister. Despite innumerable fights and leg-pulling, they are the best friends of each other. At times they are protectors of each other. They are the secret sharers of each other and have unconditional love for each other. It is difficult to decode the feelings, emotions, bond, and love between siblings. So Bhai Dooj is a day that highlights and celebrates this beautiful bond and love between a brother and a sister.

To know more about Bhai Dooj Date, celebrations, history, and significance keep reading this article till the end.

Bhai Dooj Date 2021

Bhai Dooj is made up of two words namely- “Bhai” meaning brother and “Dooj” meaning the second day after the new moon which is the day of its celebration. It falls on the second lunar day of ‘Shukla Paksha’ (bright fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika. That is 2 days after the Diwali celebration. This year, Bhai Dooj will fall on Saturday 6 November 2021.

History 

Many legends relate to the celebration of this auspicious festival. The most popular one is about Yamraj, the god of death. As per this legend, Yamraj’s sister the Yamuna wanted her brother to visit her on many occasions. However, Yamraj was unable to do so for a long time. When the Yamuna finally met him, she greeted and welcomed him with a grand celebration. Also, she offered sweets and placed the ceremonial tika on his forehead.

Yamaraj was immensely pleased with the love and respect showered by her sister. Therefore, he gave  Yamuna a boon and in turn, she asked him to dedicate a day on which he would visit her house each year. Ever since that, the ritual of siblings visiting each other on this day began to honor the kinship between them.

According to another legend on this day, Lord Krishna went to visit his sister Subhadra after defeating the demon, Naraksura. And Subhadra welcomed him with a garland of flowers, placed the tika on his forehead. She performed an aarti, which gave rise to this festival.

Celebrations and Significance of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj is very similar to Raksha Bandhan but on this occasion, the ceremonial Rakhi is not tied on the wrist. On this day, Sisters invite their brothers to visit their place and prepare delicious dishes for them. Then, brothers give gifts and money to their sisters who in turn apply the tika to their foreheads. The girls pray for their well-being, long life, and protection.

Moreover, the entire family gets together to celebrate this auspicious festival and to participate in the various delicacies leftover from Diwali. This wonderful festival is an important occasion where sisters pray to God for the longevity, well-being, and prosperity of their beloved brother.

Sisters pray to God for the well-being and long life of their brothers against all the evils. In return, brothers follow their responsibilities of caring and loving their sisters. And protecting them against all odds.

Dailyroabox wishes you A Very Happy Bhai Dooj!

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