Last Updated on 1 November 2024 | Bhai Dooj 2024: Bhai Dooj is an Indian Hindu festival dedicated to brothers and sisters. It is known by different names as ‘Bhai Phonta’, ‘Bhai Tika’, ‘Bhau Beej’ and ‘Yamadvitiya’ in different parts of the country. Also, the way of celebrating this festival is different in different cultures. Let’s know in detail.
Key points of Bhai Dooj/ Bhaiya Dooj
- Bhaiya Dooj is a festival celebrated by Hindus on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar or of Shalivahan Shaka calendar month of Kartika.
- The final day of the Diwali celebrations is observed as Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, or Bhaiya Dooj.
- It is also called Bhai Dooj, Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Beej, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta.
- It is celebrated a day after Diwali. This year the festival of Bhai dooj is on the 3rd of November.
- The celebrations of this day are similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
- The festival signifies the duty of a brother to protect his sister, as well as a sister’s blessings for her brother.
- Must know: Is Bhai Dooj a festival against scripture??
When is Bhai Dooj 2024?
Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second lunar Diwas of Shukla paksha of Kartik Month as per the Vikram samvat Hindu calendar, this year the festival of Bhai dooj is on the 3rd of November.
What is the meaning of Bhai Dooj?
Bhai dooj is made up of two words – Bhai, which means brother and Dooj means the second Diwas after the new moon when this festival is celebrated. People spend their Day with their siblings and pray for their long and happy life.
How do siblings Celebrate Bhai Dooj 2024?
The celebration of Bhai Dooj is very similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan. On this day (Diwas) brothers visit their sisters. Sisters apply tika on their brother’s forehead; pray for their welfare and long life, and brothers vow to protect their sisters from any harm ―which is meaningless because only the Supreme God can protect us in all situations. Such ignorant celebrations hurt the sentiments of those sisters, who don’t have brothers, and they cry in solitude and remain in deep grief.
Story of Bhai Dooj (Bhaiya Dooj)
According to Hindu mythology, the festival of Bhai Dooj relates to Yamraj, the god of death, and his sister Yamuna. It is said that they missed each other dearly and sister Yamuna requested her brother to visit her on many occasions. So one Day finally when Yamraj went to visit her sister, Yamuna treated him with so much love and respect, applied tilak on his brother’s forehead, and offered him sweets.
Read in Hindi: भाई दूज (Bhai Dooj) पर जानिए कैसे मिलेगी मुक्ति?
Yamraj, being immensely pleased with such respect, gave Yamuna a boon. Yamuna asked him to visit her on that same Day each year. So the ritual of brothers visiting their sisters began from there. There is another legend related to Bhai Dooj, according to which Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who was married to Arjuna. Subhadra welcomed him very warmly with sweets, flowers and also applied tilak/teeka on Shri Krishna’s forehead. This too is believed to be the origin of the festival.
Significance of Bhai Dooj
Whatever its origin may be, Bhai Dooj is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm throughout the country. There are no texts stating the official tale related to the origin of Bhai Dooj and there is no significance of celebrating Bhai Dooj. Let’s go back to the legends from where this festival is believed to have started.
■ Also Read: International Brothers Diwas: Date, History, Quotes, Celebration
Subhadra applied tilak (sindoor) on her brother Shri Krishna’s forehead who is believed to be God himself. But when Subhadra’s son Abhimanyu was trapped and killed in the war of Mahabharata, Shri Krishna was not able to save him. Even Subhadra’s tilak did not ensure the long and happy life of Shri Krishna. He died with an arrow hitting his foot after all the male members of his family killed each other in front of him.
Such Celebrations Can’t Ensure Long Life to anyone
Even Yamraj, the god of death, won’t grant or increase longer life to his sister Yamuna and Shri Krishna didn’t revive the life of Abhimanyu, his nephew. When such a mighty person can’t ensure the long and happy life of their siblings and relatives, how can fragile people like us expect from these Gods? How can we protect our loved ones by keeping arbitrary fasts and celebrating folk stories based festivals like Bhai Dooj etc. Even our holy books do not support such frivolous practices?
How can We help Protect our Loved Ones from the Cycle of Death and Birth?
The reality is that no one but only the Supreme God can protect us and our family from every accident and even from the cycle of death and birth. In Holy Rig Veda, Almighty God says that if someone is nearing death and has an incurable illness then I (God) can cure that illness and even bring someone back from the clutches of death (Rigved Mandal 10, Sukt 161, Mantra 2).
Instead of celebrating such festivals and following arbitrary practices, we should stop celebrating false festivals and start worshipping the Supreme God Kabir Saheb Ji. When all the family members would start worshiping God according to the scriptures, He will Himself take care of our family. By worshiping the Supreme God we can attain long and happy life in this world and eternal life and space in Satlok after our death.
How to Worship the Supreme God?
The knowledge about the Supreme God is given by a Tatvdarshi Sant. A Tatvdarshi Sant is the one who possesses complete knowledge of our holy scriptures and gives the correct way of worship. In Bhagwad Geeta chapter 4 verse 34, devotees are told to find a Tatvdarshi Saint and get the correct way of worship. Yajurveda Chapter 19, verses 25, 26 also tells the identity of a complete Tatvadarshi Saint. Bhagwad Geeta Chapter 17, verse 23 gives the hint of the mantras that are given by a Complete Saint. No other saint on earth can reveal the secret of those mantras.
When one takes the refuge of a Tatvadarshi Saint and worships the Supreme God Kabir Saheb ji, they will be protected by God and will attain health, wealth, peace and Salvation.
Which Saint Has Complete Spiritual Knowledge?
Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj ji is the Complete Tatvadarshi Saint & our only well wisher present on earth ( Reference Gita Adhyay 15 shlok 1-4). He has complete knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and gives the real mantras of worship. Must listen to the spiritual knowledge given by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj and take initiation from Him as soon as possible so that one can understand the purpose of this human life. We only get human life after suffering in 84 lakh life species. This life is a gift given to us to find God and to end the cycle of birth and death. This is our one and only chance to end all our sufferings and attain Supreme peace & God. We shall not miss it. Must download Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj App today from your mobile’s play store.
FAQS related to Bhai Dooj 2024
Legend says that on this day Yama, the god of death, went to visit his sister Yami on the second day of the new moon. Then the happy sister fed him delicious food and sweets.
It is believed that after killing demon Narakasura on the day which is now celebrated as Diwali, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who welcomed him by applying a tilak on his forehead.
This festival celebrates the eternal love between sisters and brothers.
No, as no human can pray for others’ long life and have no authority to bless anyone. Only the Supreme God can bless all Human’s with long life, happiness, health and wealth.
Answer: Bhai Dooj is scheduled to be observed on Sunday, November 3, 2024. The Dwitiya Tithi of the Kartik month, which signifies the occasion of Bhai Dooj, commences on November 2, 2024, at 8:21 PM and concludes on November 3, 2024, at 10:05 PM.
