Patna The festival of Bhai Dooj or Bhai Dooj strengthens the affection of brother and sister. The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Kartik month. This festival strengthens the affection of brother and sister. This festival is celebrated two days after Diwali. On this day married women invite their brothers to their homes and feed them with tilak. At the same time, brothers and sisters living in the same house sit together and eat food on this day. It is believed that on the day of Bhai Dooj, if brothers and sisters sit on the banks of Yamuna and eat together, then it is very auspicious and welfare.
Bhai Dooj is considered very different from all other festivals. It is said because in this festival, instead of worshiping any deity, there is a law to do tilak to one’s own brother. This tradition has been going on since ancient times that on the day of Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak for their brother’s long life, happiness and prosperity and increase in wealth. It is said that on the day of Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the sister who worships the Lord on her brother’s forehead with Kumkum tilak, her brother gets all the happiness.
Bhai Dooj is also known as Yama Dwitiya. On this day, there is also a law to worship Yama, the god of death. On Bhai Dooj, sisters pray for the long life of their brother. This day is also known as Bhratri Dwitiya. The main goal of this festival is to establish the sacred relation and love between brother and sister. On the day of Bhai Dooj, sisters tilak their brother with Roli and Akshat and bless him for his bright future. Also the brother gives gifts to his sister.
On the day of Bhai Dooj, sisters apply rice solution on the palm of the brother, put vermilion on it, put pumpkin flowers, paan, betel nut mudra, etc. on their hands, slowly leaving the water on their hands, like Ganga worshiped Yamuna, Yami worshiped Yamraj, Subhadra. Worship to Krishna, Ganga Yamuna neer flow my brother’s life. On this day in the evening, sisters light a four-faced lamp in the name of Yamraj and keep it outside the house. At this time, if an eagle is seen flying in the sky above, then it is considered very auspicious. It is believed that Yamraj has accepted the prayers that the sisters are asking for the brother’s age, or the eagle will go and tell the message of the sisters to Yamraj.
On the day of Bhai Dooj, sisters also perform Beri Puja. On this day, sisters apply oil to their brothers and bathe them in the Ganges Yamuna. On this day there is also a custom of cow slaughter. By making a human idol of cow dung, placing a brick on the chest, women break it with pestles. Women go from house to house grazing gram, gum and stray and also stain the tongue with the thorn of the wanderer.
The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated with great pomp across the country. However, the method of celebrating this festival is not the same everywhere. While in North India it is a practice that on this day sisters give coconut to their brother by applying akshat and tilak, whereas in eastern India, sisters apply tilak to the brother after conch shell and give some gifts as a gift. It is believed that taking food at sister’s house on this day increases the age of brother. A unique tradition is played on Bhai Dooj in Bihar. On this day sisters scold brothers and call them good and bad and then apologize to them. Actually this tradition is followed due to the mistakes made by the brothers in the past. After this ritual, sisters apply tilak to their brothers and feed them sweets.
According to the legend, Lord Krishna returned to Dwarka on the day of Bhai Dooj after killing the demon Narakasura. On this day Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra welcomed him by lighting fruits, flowers, sweets and many diyas. Subhadra had prayed for the long life of Lord Krishna by applying tilak on his head. From this day on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak on the foreheads of brothers and in return brothers give them gifts.
The worship of Yamraj and Yamuna ji has special significance on the day of Bhaiya Dooj. According to religious texts, on the day of Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, Yamuna invited her brother Yama to her house and felicitated her. That is why, this festival is also known as Yama Dwitiya. Yamraj was pleased and gave a boon to Yamuna that the person who worships Yama after bathing in the Yamuna on this day will not have to go to Yamlok after death.
The name of the wife of Lord Surya Narayan was Chhaya. Yamraj and Yamuna were born from his womb. Yamuna used to love Yamraj very much. She would request him to come to his house and have food with his favorite friends. Yamraj, who was busy with his work, kept postponing the matter. The day of Kartik Shukla has come. Yamuna again invited Yamraj for food that day, and promised him to come to her home.
Yamraj thought that I am going to lose my life. Nobody wants to invite me to their home. It is my duty to follow the goodwill with which my sister is calling me. While coming to his sister’s house, Yamraj freed the living beings who lived in hell. Yamuna’s happiness knew no bounds when she saw Yamraj coming to her home. He took a bath after worshiping and served food to him. Yamraj, pleased with the hospitality extended by Yamuna, ordered the sister to ask for a boon.
Yamuna said that Bhadra! You come to my house on this day every year. Like me, the sister who treats her brother with respect on this day should not be afraid of you. Yamraj gave the invaluable garments to Yamuna by saying ‘Tatastu’ and made the way to Yamlok. From this day onwards the tradition of the festival was formed. It is believed that those who accept hospitality do not fear Yama. That is why Yamraj and Yamuna are worshiped on Bhaiya Dooj. (talk)
