Achi news desk-
Published By: Vinod’s essay
Last Updated: March 26, 2024, 08:00 IST
Holi Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on March 27 this year. (Image: Shutterstock)
Bhai Dooj is a time to cherish and appreciate the love and affection we share with our brothers and sisters and to reaffirm our commitment to each other.
Bhai Dooj, a significant Hindu festival, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It falls on the second day of the Hindu calendar Dwitiya Tithi. Also known as Bhratri Dwitiya, it is observed twice in the Hindu calendar. The more popular Bhai Dooj is celebrated two days after Deepavali Puja.
Holi Bhai Dooj, though less known, is observed on Dwitiya Tithi and can fall either the day after Holika Dahan or the second day after Rangawali Holi. According to Drikpanchang, Holi Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on March 27 this year.
Bhai Dooj is celebrated across the nation, following the legend of Lord Yama and Yamuna. It is also known as Yama Dwitiya in some regions. The festival is not only about the bond between brothers and sisters but also about celebrating the relationship and affection between brothers and sisters. It is a day for brothers and sisters to strengthen their bond and renew their commitment to each other.
Holi Bhai Dooj 2024: Date and Timings
- Date: This year, Holi Bhai Dooj falls on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
- Dwitiya Tithi Starts :02:55 PM on March 26, 2024
- Dwitiya Tithi Ends: 05:06 PM on 27th March, 2024
Historical Background And Origin of Holi Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj, like Raksha Bandhan, celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. According to Hindu mythology, there are several legends related to Bhratri Dwitiya. One legend tells of Lord Yama, the god of death, visiting his sister Yamuna (the river) on Dwitiya of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.
Yamuna applied sandalwood paste or tilak on Lord Yama and offered him delicacies. Lord Yama then declared that any sister who uses tika and feeds her brother on this date will be blessed with longevity and prosperity.
Holi Bhai Dooj Symbolism And Significance
Bhai Dooj reminds us of the importance of family and the bonds that unite them. It reminds us to cherish the love and affection we share with our brothers and sisters, to honor and respect each other, and to forgive past differences, starting anew with love and affection.
The celebration of Bhai Dooj varies regionally but typically includes rituals such as placing a tika (mark on the forehead), performing an aarti (ritual of worship), exchanging gifts, and sharing a meal together. Sisters pray for their brothers’ long and prosperous lives, and brothers promise to protect and support their sisters.
The festival also has cultural significance, highlighting the values ​​of love, respect, and unity within families. It is a time when family members come together, strengthening their bonds and creating lasting memories.
Bhai Dooj is a time to cherish and appreciate the love and affection we share with our brothers and sisters and to reaffirm our commitment to each other.
Holi Bhai Dooj Rituals And Customs
- The day often begins with a cleansing bath for the brother and sister.
- Sisters will prepare a puja thali, a special plate containing different offerings.
- This usually includes diya (earthen oil lamp), roli (vermilion powder), chawal (rice), fruits, sweets, betel nut, and moli (sacred thread).
- The centerpiece of the celebration is the tilak ceremony. The sister places a tilak, paste or mark, on the brother’s forehead. This is usually done with a rolling pin and sometimes other materials such as sandalwood paste.
- While applying the tilak, the sister chants mantras, or prayers, for her brother’s well-being and long life.
- Aarti is then performed, which involves circling the puja thali with the lighted diya in front of the brother.
- After the tilak ceremony, the sister offers sweets and other treats to her brother.
- The festival is also a time for gift giving. Sisters traditionally give something special to their brothers, and brothers can return the gesture with gifts for their sisters.
- Some variations in rituals exist depending on the region. In Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Karnataka, the festival is called Bhau Beej. Here, sisters could draw a square on the floor for the brother to sit in while the puja is performed.
- In some places, sisters may also perform aarti for the moon god Chandra if they do not have a brother.
