When Bhai Dooj is celebrated ?

According to the Hindu calendar, the festival of Bhaiya Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Kartik Shukla Paksha. Bhaiya Dooj arrives two days after Diwali. This time Bhai Dooj or Yama Dwitiya is on 29 October. On the occasion of Bhai Dooj, the sister prays for her brother’s long life. The festival Bhai Dooj gives the message that love should always remain between brothers and sisters. They should definitely spend some moments of comfort with each other irrespective of their busy schedule.

Why Bhai Dooj is Celebrated?
According to legend, sun god’s wife Chhaya gave birth to Yamraj and Yamuna from her womb. The Yamuna loved her brother Yamraj very much. She always pleaded Yamraj to come to her home but Yamraj, busy with his work, kept on refusing her offer. On Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, seeing Yamraj coming to his house, Yamuna was very happy. She worshiped and served food to her brother. Yamraj was pleased with the hospitality of Yamuna and asked the sister to ask for a boon. Yamuna said, “I just want that you come to my home every year on this day. Since then the tradition of Bhaiya Dooj started.

It is believed that the brothers who accept the sister’s invitation on this day have no fear of Yama. For this reason, Yamraj and Yamuna are worshiped on Bhaiya Dooj.

The festival lasts five days as Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Goverdhan and Bhai Dooj. The third day is the actual day when Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and this year it falls on 27.10.19. Celebrants clean, renovate and decorate their homes, offices and temples. They adorn themselves in their best outfit for the occasion and light the diyas and candles outside and inside of their homes and workplace. They pray to goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha for wealth and prosperity and after that share burn crackers and share gifts with their loved ones.

India is a country of diversity. Various religions of the Indian subcontinent celebrate Diwali for different reasons. Hindus believe that when Lord Ram defeated Ravana and returned to Ayodhaya after 14 years of exile, people welcomed them with lightning diyas and hence Diwali is celebrated. Another belief of Hindus is related to deity Lakshmi who is the giver of wealth and prosperity. They worship Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha as he is the remover of all obstacles. In Jainism, it marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C. In Sikhism, it marks the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru was freed from imprisonment.

The following day is celebrated as the new year when people visited each other houses and wished them for the season. The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj when sisters do tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life.
The five-day festival is an annual homecoming and bonding period not only for families but also for communities and associations.

The festival lasts five days as Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Govers tha actdhan and Bhai dooj. The third day is the actual day when Goddess Lakshami is worshiped and this year it falls on 07.11.18. Celebrants clean, renovate and decorate their homes, offices and temples. They adorn themselves in their best outfit for the occasion and light the diyas and candles outside and inside of their homes and workplace. They pray to goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha for wealth and prosperity and after that share burn crackers and share gifts with their loved ones.

India is a country of diversity. Various religions of Indian subcontinent celebrate Diwali for different reasons. Hindus believe that when Lord Ram defeated Ravana and returned to Ayodhaya after 14 years of exile, people welcomed them with lightning diyas and hence diwali is celebrated. Another believe of hindus is related to deity Lakshmi who is giver of wealth and prosperity. They worship lakshmi and lord Ganesha as he is the remover of all obstacles. In Jainism, it marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C. In Sikhism it marks the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru was freed from imprisonment.

The following day is celebrated as new year when people visited each other houses and wished them for the season. The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj when sisters do tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life.
The five day festival is an annual homecoming and bonding period not only for families, but also for communities and associations.