Sisters and brothers share a unique and special relationship. The festival of Bhai Dooj is a celebration of this wonderful relationship. Bhai Dooj is also known by many names in different parts of the country but the rituals are almost same. On the day of the festival, sisters pray for their brothers well being and prosperity. They also apply tikka on the foreheads of their brothers and present them with gifts.
Sisters and brothers share a unique chemistry and they are both a perfect complement of each other. Often growing up in the same household, they know each other more than anyone else. Brothers and sisters are fiercely protective and from their childhood they have learnt to take care of each other. Their special and unique bond doesn’t diminish with age and it intensifies long after their marriages too. Through the ages, people have always revered the relationship of brothers and sisters, and in the country of India, the festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated in honor of it. Next to Rakshabandhan, Bhai Dooj is an important traditional festival dedicated solely to brothers and sisters.
The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of Diwali, which falls on the second day of the new moon in the month of Kartik. Bhai Dooj is celebrated all over the country with different names in different parts of the Indian subcontinent-Bhaiya Duj in Northern India, Bhai Phota in Bengal and Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and "Bhai-Tikka" in Nepal.
Many religious rites and ceremonies feature in the celebrations. They have been passed down through the generations and people still follow them popularly. The Bhai Dooj pooja thali is an integral part of celebrations, and on the day of the festival, sisters perform a Puja ceremony to seek the blessings of the gods for their brothers well being and prosperity. The ritual highlights the devotion of the sisters and the care they take for their brothers. After the Puja, the sisters apply their brothers’ foreheads with a tilak or a vermilion mark. The tilak or tikka is usually red in color and it is meant to keep them away from harm and also bring good fortune. Another significant part of the festival traditions is the presents or Bhai tikka gifts which the sisters gift to their brothers on the occasion. Celebrations of Bhai Dooj in India differ slightly from state to state and so do the gift ideas for Bhai Dooj too. In Bengal, sisters often fast through the morning, and the gifting of rice and new grass is an integral part of the rituals. While in Uttar Pradesh, the brothers are gifted with a length of flax, knotted into a circular shape and dotted with sugar batashas. But in spite of these variations the essence of the festival remains the same everywhere. No matter how Bhai Dooj is celebrated, it's the spirit of brotherly sisterly love which makes it an important festival.
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Bringing the Air of Festivity with Bhaidooj
Commemorating one of the most promising bonds that exist between siblings, the festival of bhaidooj is just around the corner. Preparations for Bhaidooj starts well in advance and people are already out on shopping, looking for beautiful gifts for their brother. Celebrate the festival with great pomp and show.
