Bhai Dooj 2023: Bhai Dooj is a popular Hindu festival which celebrates the bond between siblings. It is the last event of the Diwali festival, and sisters mark this day by applying tilak on their brother’s forehead and expressing their affection and gratitude. The auspicious occasion is celebrated with family gatherings, feasts and exchange of sweets, gifts and a sacred promise to protect sisters. The day and rituals symbolize prayers of sisters for brothers and sisters' well-being and reinforce sibling relationships, fostering love and strengthening the bond.
When is Bhai Dooj 2023?
Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhai Dwitiya is celebrated by Hindus on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha of Kartika month. It is observed on the occasions of Holi and Diwali, also known as Tihar. This year it falls on November 14, 2023.
| Bhai Dooj 2023 Date | November 14, 2023 |
| Bhai Dooj 2023 Day | Tuesday |
| Bhai Dooj Aparahna Time | 01:30 PM to 03:45 PM |
| Dwitiya Tithi Begins | 02:36 PM on Nov 14, 2023 |
| Dwitiya Tithi Ends | 01:47 PM on Nov 15, 2023 |
Source: DrikPanchang
Different Names of Bhai Dooj
The essence of the festival remains the same but the name of the festival varies from one region to another. Check the table below for different names:
| Name | Region |
| Bhai Dooj | Northern India |
| Bhai Teeka | Nepal |
| Bhai Phonta | Bengal, West Bengal, Tripura, and Bangladesh |
| Bhai Juntia | Western Odisha |
| Bhau Beej/Bhav Bij | Maharashtra |
| Bhatru Dviteeya, or Bhatri Ditya or Bhaghini Hastha Bhojanamu | Andhra Pradesh & Telangana |
One other popular name for the festival is Yamadwitheya or Yamadvitiya. The day marks the meeting between Yama (the god of death) and his sister Yamuna (the famous river) on the occasion of Dwitheya (the second day after the new moon).
Why Is Bhai Dooj Celebrated?
Bhai Dooj is celebrated after a popular Hindu legend, it marks the occasion when Lord Krishna visited sister Subhadra after killing the demon Naraksura. She affectionately applied Tilaka on Krishna’s forehead, the festival marked the origin of the festival.
Rabindranath Tagore expanded the meaning of Brother's Second, a celebration that takes place immediately after the pujas, in 1905 to foster friendship between Muslims and Hindus. Participants in the ritual would tie red threads symbolising brotherhood around each other's wrists. These rakhi-bandhan ceremonies were regularly publicised in Bengali and English newspapers during the partition era.
In conclusion, Bhai Dooj is a Hindu festival similar to Raksha Bandhan to celebrate the relationship among siblings. On this day, sisters perform aarti for their brother and apply a red tika on the brother’s forehead. The tika ceremony signifies the prayers for the long and happy life of brothers and treats them with gifts and souvenirs. Happy Bhai Dooj!
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