Bhai Duj is a Hindu festival that celebrates the affection between a brother and a sister on the second day after the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartika (October/November). It falls on the fifth and/or last day of the five-day-long Diwali festival. The name Bhai Duj means “brother’s second” and refers to the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. The festival is also known by various other names, such as Bhai Tika, Bhaubeej, Bhai Phonta, Bhratri Dwitiya, Bhai Bij, Bhav Bij, and Bhaiya Dooj, depending on the region and culture.
Significance
Bhai Duj is a festival that symbolizes the bond of love, care, and protection between a sister and a brother. It is believed that on this day, the god of death, Yama, visited his sister Yami, who welcomed him with a tilak (a mark on the forehead) and aarti (a ritual of waving a lamp). She also offered him sweets and prayed for his well-being. Yama was so pleased by his sister’s gesture that he granted her a boon that whoever receives a tilak from his sister on this day will be blessed with a long and happy life. Hence, Bhai Duj is also known as Yama Dwitiya. Another legend associated with the festival is that of Lord Krishna, who returned to his sister Subhadra after killing the demon king Narakasura. Subhadra welcomed him with a tilak, aarti, and sweets, and thus started the tradition of Bhai Duj.
History
The festival of Bhai Duj has a long and rich history that dates back to ancient times. It is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures, such as the Mahabharata, the Puranas, and the Vishnu Purana. According to some scholars, the festival originated as a part of the agrarian culture, where the sisters prayed for the prosperity and safety of their brothers, who were engaged in farming and cattle-rearing. The festival also has a historical significance, as it marks the victory of King Vikramaditya over the Shakas, who invaded India in the first century BCE. The king was welcomed by his sister with a tilak and aarti on this day, and hence he declared it as a festival of sibling love.
Celebrations
The festival of Bhai Duj is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by brothers and sisters across India and Nepal. The sisters wake up early in the morning and prepare a special thali (a plate) with roli (a red powder), rice, sweets, coconut, and a lamp. They also decorate their homes with rangoli (a colorful pattern made on the floor) and flowers. The brothers visit their sisters’ homes and receive a tilak and aarti from them. The sisters also tie a sacred thread or a bracelet on their brothers’ wrists and feed them sweets. The brothers, in turn, give their sisters gifts and money and promise to protect them from all evils. The siblings also exchange hugs and blessings and reminisce about their childhood memories. Some of the regional variations of the festival are:
- In Nepal, the festival is known as Bhai Tika and is celebrated by the Newari community as Kija Puja. The sisters put a vertical tika of seven colors, known as Saptarangi Tika, on their brothers’ foreheads. They also offer them garlands of marigold and makhamali flowers and fruits. The brothers give their sisters a sagun, which consists of dried fruits, nuts, and sweets.
- In Bengal, the festival is known as Bhai Phonta and is celebrated on the second day after Kali Puja. The sisters put a phonta (a dot) of sandalwood paste or curd on their brothers’ foreheads and chant mantras for their longevity. They also offer them sweets, fruits, and betel leaves. The brothers give their sisters gifts and money and touch their feet to seek their blessings.
- In Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Karnataka, the festival is known as Bhaubeej or Bhai Bij. The sisters draw a square on the floor and place a copper or silver coin in it. They then perform aarti and tilak on their brothers and offer them basundi (a sweet dish made of milk) and puri (a deep-fried bread). The brothers give their sisters gifts and money and touch their feet to seek their blessings.
- In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the festival is known as Bhaiya Dooj or Bhardutiya. The sisters put a tilak of rice and sindoor (a red powder) on their brothers’ foreheads and offer them dahi-chura (a dish made of curd and flattened rice) and sweets. The brothers give their sisters gifts and money and touch their feet to seek their blessings.
Special Foods
The festival of Bhai Duj is also a time to relish various delicacies and sweets that are prepared by the sisters for their brothers. Some of the common foods that are enjoyed on this day are:
- Basundi: A creamy and rich dessert made of thickened milk, sugar, cardamom, saffron, and nuts. It is served chilled with puri or malpua (a sweet pancake).
- Dahi-chura: A simple and nutritious dish made of curd and flattened rice. It is flavored with sugar, salt, and green chilies and garnished with coriander leaves and roasted peanuts.
- Gajar ka halwa: A popular winter dessert made of grated carrots, milk, sugar, ghee, and nuts. It is cooked until the carrots are soft and the milk is reduced to a thick consistency.
- Kheer: A rice pudding made of milk, rice, sugar, cardamom, saffron, and nuts. It is cooked until the rice is tender and the milk is creamy.
- Laddoo: A round-shaped sweet made of various ingredients, such as besan (gram flour), boondi (tiny fried balls of gram flour), atta (wheat flour), coconut, and dry fruits. They are bound together with sugar syrup or ghee and flavored with cardamom and nutmeg.
- Namak pare: A crispy and savory snack made of refined flour, ghee, salt, and water. They are rolled into thin sheets and cut into diamond-shaped pieces. They are then deep-fried until golden and crunchy.
- Petha: A translucent and soft candy made of ash gourd, sugar, and lime juice. It is flavored with rose water, saffron, or kewra (screw pine) essence and cut into cubes or slices.
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