Bhai Dooj

introduction.

The festival of bhai Dooj is celebrated after two days of Deepawali in the Hindu calendar month of Karthik. It is celebrated mainly in the northern parts of India and in Nepal. The festival is very similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan celebrated in the savan month.

Rituals and significance of Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj celebrated the special brother-sister bond and mutual responsibilities for each other, as per the Hindu culture. Sister bond and mutual responsibilities for each other, as per the Hindu culture. Sister performs ritualistic veneration of her brother in exchange for this protection and love. The rituals performed are similar to those performed on Raksha Bandhan. Girls prepare a veneration plate for performing aarti of their brothers and apply red tika on their forehead The brother on the other hand gift article, jewelry or money to their sisters.

 

the married woman invites their brother to their house for  a sumptuous meal and veneration rituals. Brother, who are able to accept the invite, go to their sister's house with gift and money. After the rituals are performed the brotherhood over the gift he protects her from any adversity.

Brother who are not able to accept the invite due to distance or some other reason, 

nevertheless, get the well wishes of their sister through the Moon as God or Chandra Mama,, who acts as the messenger of sister to her brother in case the latter is unable to come.

Sister sincerely perform the aarti of moon god, similarly as they would have performed for their brothers. They pray for the longevity and good health of their brother and symbolically ask the Moon God to convey the same to their brother.

The festival of Bhai Dooj has many regional names in different parts of the sub continent in the entire northern India it is called Bhai Dooj and Bhai Tika in Nepal. Whatever name is assigned to the festival, its significance remains same, that is, to celebrate the eternal bond between brother and sisters.