Bhai Dooj: The Celebration of Siblinghood

Bhai Dooj is a festival that celebrates the affectionate bond between brothers and sisters. It is observed on the second day of the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik, marking the end of the five-day-long Diwali festivities. In Bihar, the festival has some unique and interesting rituals, sharing a similar sentiment with Raksha Bandhan.,Sisters begin the day by cursing their brothers and eating a thorny fruit, symbolizing the removal of all obstacles from their brothers' lives. This is followed by the main ceremony where the sister applies a 'tilak' on her brother's forehead and performs an 'aarti', praying for his well-being and long life. In return, the brother gives gifts to his sister as a token of his love and promise of protection.,The festival is based on the mythological story of Yama, the god of death, visiting his sister Yami (the river Yamuna). Yami welcomed him with a grand ceremony, and in return, Yama declared that any brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day will be granted a long life. Bhai Dooj is a heartfelt celebration of sibling love, much like the Sama Chakeva festival in Mithila.

Keywords: bhai dooj, sibling festival, diwali, bihar festivals, yama dwitiya