The Story of Bhai Dooj celebration and the Traditions it involves!

In India Bhai Dooj is celebrated with great fervour and zeal. It is dedicated to celebrate the pious bond shared between brothers and sisters. It signifies that nothing can undermine the beauty of the relationship that they share with each other.

THE STORY BEHIND THE CELEBRATION OF BHAI DOOJ!

India has many colourful festivals that are dedicated to celebrating every bond that exist. There is one of those pure bonds shared between brothers and sisters. To celebrate this pious relationship we celebrate two festivals, one of them being Raksha Bandhan and the other one is Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj is about to knock our doors just in few days and will be celebrated on 21st October 2017.

Here is the legendary story behind the celebration of Bhai Dooj in India:

Story 1

As per the mythology once Lord Yamaraja known as the God of death visited his sister Yamuna on Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month of Hindu solar Calendar. He was overwhelmed at the joy of his sister that was reflected in her outpouring of emotions by offering aarti and applying Tilak on his forehead. She also served him the delicious food that she had prepared for her brother. In turn Yamaraj blessed Yamuna with his love and good luck wishes. Out of joy and having understood the importance of the festival Yamaraj then announced that whosoever will visit their sister on this day will be blessed with health and wealth. And, this is the reason that Bhai Dooj is also known as "Yam-Dwitiya".

Story 2

As per another story once Lord Krishna went to meet his sister Subhadra after destroying Narkasur, a devil. Accidently, the day when he went on to meet his sister was the second day after the new Moon day. Same as Yamuna, the sister of Yamraj, Subhdra also gave a grand welcome to her brother and welcomed him with a garland of flowers, applied tilak on his forehead and performed aarti for her brother. And, since then the ritual of performing Tilak and aarti is celebrated on this day with the name Bhai Dooj.

TRADITIONS OF CELEBRATION

• Sisters prepare a puja thali for the ritual of Bhai Dooj, apply Tilak on the forehead of their brother, perform aarti and pray for the well-being of their brothers.
• The day is celebrated on the second day after the Diwali celebration is over.
• In different parts of the country the festival is know with different names like Bhau Beej, Bhai Phota etc.
• The festival highlights the importance of the brother-sister relationship.

RITUALS FOLLOWED ON BHAI DOOJ

• The story behind the Bhai Dooj celebration is narrated.
• The sacred thali is decorated with mauli, a few grains of rice, diya and some sweets.
• Friends and relatives are invited for the puja together.
• The whole family gets dressed up in new clothes and sometimes brothers-sisters also choose to wear the matching attire. Also, out of love children prepare cards for their brother/sister on Bhai Dooj.

Share your art of decorating the Bhai Dooj Thali