The festival of lights, Diwali culminates with Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj, a festival that commemorates the bond between brothers and sisters. The festival is called Bhau Beej among Gujarati, Marathi and Konkani-speaking communities, Bhai Phonta among Bengalis and Bhai Teeka in Nepal. This year Bhai Dooj is celebrated on Tuesday, October 29, the fifth day of Diwali festivities.
Bhai Dooj is celebrated across India with great fervour and enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated two days after Diwali. On Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak or tika (vermilion mark) on the foreheads of their brothers and pray for their prosperity. Sisters also keep fast and prepare delicious food items for their brother and eat after feeding their brothers. The brothers in return give gifts to their sisters and promise to protect them from every evil forces. According to Hindu mythology, Bhai Dooj is celebrated to commemorate Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra’s loving gesture toward her brother. After Lord Krishna defeated Narakasur, Subhadra invited her brother to celebrate his victory, she applied tilak on his forehead and performed aarti, Lord Krishna was so pleased by his sister’s gestures that he blessed her with plentiful boons. According to another story, the festival is associated with Yamraj and his sister Yamuna, and is also called Yama Dwitiya.
The Nagpurians are aslo excited about this festival and they all are expressed their interest in celebrating the festival which underlines the bond between siblings. Shreya Biju, a teenager has stated that every year she enjoy this festival with her brothers. And she commented that on this occassion, all people gather at her house and make the festival more charming. For the puja thali the following essential items are required: a plate, small diya, roli tika, a little rice, coconut, batashas, sweets and some betel leaves. As per information, the tika or tilak muhurat starts at 1.11 pm and will last till 3.25 pm.
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