• Saturday 21st Oct 2017

Bhaiya Dooj

The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated two days after Diwali, and is, like Raksha Bandhan, a day dedicated to the love between a brother and sister. Bhai Dooj is also known as "Bhav-Bij" in Marathi and "Bhai-Tika" in Nepal. Bhai Dooj is observed primarily in northern India, and on this day sisters pray for the wellbeing and prosperity of their brothers. The rituals performed during the ceremony include sisters putting tika/tilak (vermilion spot) on the forehead of their brother, offering sweets and performing rituals to protect their brother and ward evils, such as taking their 'aarti'. In return the brother offers gifts to their sisters as an expression of love.