Bhai Dooj 2022: Date and Time, Story, Rituals and Celebrations

The most awaited festive week of Diwali is here and two days after Diwali, we celebrate the festival of Bhai Dooj. Also known as 'Bhai Phonta', 'Bhai Tika', 'Bhau Beej', and 'Yama Dwitiya', the festival is celebrated in the country one day after Goverdhan Puja and two days after Diwali.

It is one of the significant festivals celebrated during Diwali to commemorate the sacred, and beautiful bond shared between brothers and sisters. Sisters apply tilak on the forehead of their brothers and pray for their prosperity and longevity. The word “Bhai” refers to Brother and “Dooj” means the second day after Diwali.

Bhai Dooj 2022 marks the end of the five-day festivities of Diwali celebrations which are observed on the second day after the new moon of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik.

Also Read: Five Magic Days of Diwali

When is Bhai Dooj 2022?

Bhai Dooj 2022 Date: This festival marks the strong bond between a brother-sister relationship. This year, the festival of Bhai-dooj will fall after two days of Diwali on October 27, 2022.

Bhai Dooj Timing - According to Drik Panchang, the Dwitiya Tithi begins at 2:42 PM on October 26 and ends at 12:45 PM on October 27, 2022. Bhai Dooj 2022 Aparahna Muhurat is from 01:14 PM to 03:35 PM on October 26, 2022. 

Keep reading to know more about the history and significance of the festival.

Why is Bhai Dooj Celebrated? History and Significance

What is Bhai Dooj? There are many beliefs associated with the celebrations of Bhai Dooj 2022 in which the most popular one is related to Lord Yama or Yamraja, the god of death, and his sister, the Yamuna. 

As per the story, the sister of Yama ie. Yamuna insisted her brother pay a visit to her home on many occasions, but Yamraja was unable to do that. On the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, he finally decided to meet her and he was greeted with a grand celebration. Yamuna applied tilak on his forehead and offered sweets. Before leaving, Yamraja asked Yamnua for her wish and she requested a boon that any brother who visits his sister on this day and eats the food should have a long and wealthy life. Since then, this day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj.

One another reason why Bhai Dooj is celebrated after Diwali is that Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra after killing the demon, Narakasura. Subhadra welcomed him by applying tilak on his forehead. From that day onwards, the festival of Bhai Dooj began. Bhai Dooj is similar to celebrating Raksha-Bandhan which commemorates the sacred bond of siblings.

Bhai Dooj 2022 - Celebrations in India

The celebrations of Bhai Dooj 2022 start with brothers visiting their sisters and sisters making them sit in a place decorated with flour rice to complete the ceremony. They apply tilak on their brother’s forehead, pray for their happy well-being and wish each other Happy Bhai Dooj. After performing Aarti, both brothers and sisters exchange gifts and the brothers vow to fulfil their sister’s wishes.

Bhai Dooj is similar to Raksha Bandhan. It is celebrated across the country with great joy and enthusiasm. Here is how it is celebrated in different states of the country.

Maharashtra 

In Maharashtra and Goa, Bhai Dooj is known as Bhao Beej. To celebrate Bhai Dooj 2022, sisters make their brothers sit on the floor where they draw a square and consume a fruit named Karith. Then, they apply Tilak on their brother’s forehead, perform aarti and pray for their well-being.

West Bengal 

In west Bengal, the festival is known as “Bhai Phonta” where several rituals are performed. To celebrate the day, sisters observe a fast until the ceremony is completed. Tilak is applied on the forehead of their brothers which is made of sandalwood, Kajal, and ghee, and pray for their happy and prosperous life.

Bihar

The celebration of Bhai Dooj 2022 is quite different in Bihar than in other parts of the country. On the eve of Bhai Dooj, the sister abuses their brothers to absolve the brother of their past sins. During the ceremony, the sister applies tilak and offers sweets to their brothers.

Uttar Pradesh

When it comes to celebrating Bhai Dooj in Uttar Pradesh, the sisters apply tilak on her brother and offer him crystalized sugar and water.

Bhai Dooj Celebration in Nepal

Our neighbouring country Nepal also observes this beautiful festival. Bhai Dooj is known as Bhai Tihar in Nepal. Here, “Tihar” refers to Tilak which is applied on the forehead. Apart from this, Bhai Dooj is also called Bhai teeka as sisters apply tilak on their brothers which comprises seven colours. Then, they pray for a long and prosperous life.

Rituals of Bhai Dooj 2022

Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of the dark lunar fortnight with utmost customs and traditions. 

• On the day of Bhai Dooj, the “Puja thali” i.e., the plate that sisters use to worship their brothers is decorated nicely. Moreover, it is a must to have vermillion, sandals, flowers, sweets and betel nuts. 

• Sisters make their brothers sit on a place drawn in a square with rice and perform the ceremony.

• Brothers are applied tilak, and given fruits, betel nuts, and sweets after performing aarti on him.

• Once the tilak and aarti is done, the brothers give presents to their sisters and take a vow to protect her for life.
  
  

How to Celebrate Bhai Dooj?

• Narrate the story behind Bhai Dooj.

• Prepare a sacred thali with vermillion, rice, sweets, moli, and some sweets.

• Dress up in traditional clothes. 

• Exchange gifts and invite your relatives and friends to celebrate this festival together.

Wrapping Up!!

Now you know why Bhai Dooj is celebrated after Diwali. Bhai Dooj is an auspicious day that celebrates the love, affection, and strong bond of brothers and sisters. It is difficult to express the feelings, and emotions between siblings. Bhai Dooj is one such occasion that allows us to define and express the love between siblings. Sisters pray to god for their brother’s longevity, well-being and prosperity. So, think about the perfect gifts to exchange and Bhai Dooj wishes for your sister. Happy Bhai Dooj!!!