India Lifestyle

Bhai Dooj 2017: Vrat Katha, Story and Significance

Bhai Dooj 2017: Vrat Katha, Story and Significance

Bhai dooj is celebrated on the second day of lunar day of Sukla Paksha of Kartik month. This year it falls on 21 October. It is a very significant festival for brothers and sister. On the festival, of bhai dooj sister do tikka on her brother’s forehead and pray for his long life. Sister observes fast or vrat for the long life of her brother and brothers bring gifts for his sister.  In Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka Bhai dooj are known as Bhau beej, in Bengal and Manipur it is known as Bhai Tika and in northern part Panjab Himachal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh it is named as Bai dooj and Bhaiya Dooj.

Bhai Dooj Stories and Katha

According to Hindu stories, Lord Yama (God of death) visited his sister’s house (Yami or Yamuna) on the special day of Bhai Dooj. Yami welcomed her brother by doing an aarti and tilak ceremony. She also offered him sweets and Yama gave many gifts in return for his sister love. After the Tika rituals, Yama declared that all the brothers who are applied tilak by their sisters will never be fearful in their life for unexpected death.

According to another story or Hindu mythology, when Lord Krishna went to his sister Subhadra after killing demon Narakasur, Subhadra welcomed Lord Krishna with tilak, aarti, flowers, sweets, and variety of food. This is also a reason for the celebration of Bhai dooj in Hindu culture.

About the author

Shilpi Gupta

Food Technologist by Profession and Blogger by Destiny. love to write articles on food technology, spirituality and social issues.