Fifth And Last Day of Five Day Diwali Festival "Bhai Dooj"

The bond is not only limited to the silken thread but has its vicinity to enrich the love and care that brothers have for their sisters and sisters have for their brothers. The celebration of this day are similar to that of another day celebrating brother sister relation, Rakshabandhan. On this day, sisters pray for their brothers to have long and prosperous lives by performing the Tilak ceremony, and sisters give gifts to their brothers. This day is celebrated among Hinduism on the last day of the five day long Diwali festival, also known as Bhau-Beej,Bhai Tika and bhai pota.

The history of the sanctity of sibling relationship ways back in the Hindu mythology, after slaying the evil demon Narkasur, lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who gave him a warm welcome with sweets and flowers and applied Tilak on Krishna’s forehead. This legend is believed to be the origin of the festival. The ceremony of Bhai Duj starts with the invitation to brother given by their sisters, for a delicious meal including their favorite dishes. Carrying forward the tradition, sisters perform aarti for their brothers and apply a red tilak on brother’s forehead. The Tilak ceremony on this occasion signifies the sister’s sincerest prayers for the long and happy life of her brother .in return brothers bless their sisters and treat them also with gifts and cash. The sister, whose brother live far away from her and cannot come to her house, sends her sincerest prayers for long and happy life of her brother through the Moon God. She performs aarti from the Moon. This is the reason why Children why children of Hindu parents affectionately call the moon chandamama (chanda means moon and mama means mother’s brother).

 

The whole ceremony signifies the duty of a brother to protect his sister, as well as a sister’s blessings for her brother. This year Bhai Dooj is on 25 October.