Celebrate Bhai Dooj with Unstoppable Love and Unbreakable Bonds

Bhai Dooj is a Hindu festival to celebrate the sibling bond.

Namaste!

Welcome to the world of spiritually inclined and self awakening blogs on www.onindianpath.com. Today, I am continuing to the series of Diwali week festival to be celebrated from 29 October 2024 to 3 November 2024.

Introduction

As we have discussed the relevance and rituals of Diwali in our previous blogs. We are discussing Bhai Dooj today.

In many geographical regions of India and other Asian sub continents, Bhai Dooj is also called as Bhau-Beej, Bhai Tika and Bhai Tilak.

Although, it falls on the second day after Diwali, a grand festival of lights. Bhai Dooj is a festival of celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.

Rituals and Traditions of Bhai Dooj

On this day, sisters and brothers celebrate the heartfelt love and respect for each other. Also they pray for the well-being and prosperity of each other. The rituals followed are given below :

• Firslty, the sister applies a sacred tilak (vermilion mark) on her brother’s forehead. This tilak is often made of sandalwood paste and kumkum (red powder) and is a symbol of protection and well-being.
• Secondly, after tilak, the sister performs an aarti (moving a plate with a lit lamp in clock wise direction) for her brother. She did so for the prosperity and longevity of her brother.
• Thirdly, brothers give gifts to their sisters as a token of their love. These gifts may include money, clothes, jewelry or any thoughtful items that the sister wished for long.
• Further, celebration is incomplete without sweets. Sisters prepare or buy special sweets and offer them to their brothers as a symbol of their sweet relationship.
• Due to a long Diwali week and holiday, families often come together and feast together. To celebrate Bhai Dooj, they enjoy a delicious meal together to celebrate the togetherness.

Modern Twists in Bhai Dooj

Apparently, by far we all know the rituals and traditions of Bhai Dooj. But, gen Z and gen alpha has given modern twist to the age old traditions.

To cherish the strong bond between siblings, these cool siblings now plan for a fun filled outing on the day of Bhai Dooj to a picnic spot, mall or multiplex to take out time from busy schedule of each other and spend quality time together.

Moreover, festivals are gaining digital presence too. Geographical distance is not a issue any more. There are apps and video calls to express love, resolving any differences and renewing the promise of support and protection on Bhai Dooj.

Similarly, posting amd showering love through social media tools is ‘in’ these days. Siblings post their selfies and groupies of marking tilak, exchanging blessings and gifts on watsapp, Facebook, Instagram and threads.

Bhai Dooj remains the celebration of the sacred and enduring bond between siblings. Thus, the idea of gifting has made an entry with a twist in contemporary times. Siblings are no longer attached to money and clothes. They are looking for the interests and hobbies of their sisters and brothers. Likewise a gym lover sister will be gifted with a year long membership or a chef brother is gifted with a one month enrolment in culinary classes.

Dates

Moreover, it is celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik maas of hindu panchang. This year we are going to celebrate it on 3rd November 2024 as the titthi and muhurat falling on this auspicious day. Dwitiya Tithi will start on 2 November 2024 at 08:21 pm and will end on 3 November 2024 at 10:05 pm.

Legends

As per ancient text, it is beleived that Daughter of Lord Sun, Yamuna invited her brother Yamaraj to her home. She fed him delicious food and got blessings from him. Yamaraj also announced that on this auspicious day, all the Nar living in hell will get rid of torture and free from their sins.

Hence, this day is celebrated by all the human beings to get rid of sins. It is also called Yama Dwitiya.

Furthermore, there is a tradition where brother and sister take a holy dip in river Yamuna on this day.

Conclusion

Thus, we can not surpass the relevance and celebrations of Bhai Dooj in Diwali week. It celebrates the strong and special relationship between siblings, reinforcing the importance of family ties in Hindu culture. Have a blessed time ahead.

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