Diwali 2015: Why do we celebrate Bhai Dooj? Happy Bhai Dooj Quotes, Whatsapp Message, Status with Photos

Bhai Dooj is also know as Bhau-Beej is a festival celebrated by brothers and sisters on the last day of the five-day-long Diwali. The celebrations of this day is similar to the Raksha Bandhan. The festival will be in traditional style. On this day sisters perform aarti for their brother and apply a red tika on the brother’s forehead. This tika ceremony on the occasion of Bhai Bij 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 or cash. It is believed that the origin of the festival is from a tale of Lord Krishna and his sister Subhadra.

The festival has several Regional names:

This festival is called as Bhai Dooj in Hindi and this festival is celebrated in entire Northern part of India. This is also the second day of the Vikrami Samvat New Year, the calendar followed in Northern India , which starts from the lunar month of Kārtika.

It is called as Bhai Tika in Nepal, where it is the second most important festival after Vijaya Dashmi / Dussehra.

In Bengal it is called as Bhai Phota and it takes place every year on the first or the second day of the Kali Puja festival.

Bhau Beej or Bhav Bij is claaed in Marathi amongst the Gujarati, Marathi and Konkani-speaking communities in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.

“Bhai er kopale dilam phota, Jomer Duar e porlo kata,
Jamuna Dae Jomke phota, Ami di amar bhai ke phota,
Bhai jeno hoy lohar vata.”

This means-

On my brother’s forehead I put the “phota”, Death’s door are now closely crossed,
Yamuna applies “phota” on Yama, While I give the “phota” to my brother.
Let my brother be as tough as Iron”.

Sisters chant this mantra in order to keep Lord of Death, Yamraj away from her brother.

Significance of Bhai Dooj:

According to Hindu mythology, after slaying the evil demon Narkasur, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who gave him a warm welcome with sweets and flowers. She also affectionately applied tilak on Krishna’s forehead. Some believe this to be the origin of the festival.