Do You Know the...

Do You Know the Interesting Facts About Bhai Dooj

Diwali, aka, the festival of lights is almost here, which means bhaiya dooj is not far away from us! Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dhuj is one such joyous festival which comes after Diwali and is celebrated with great fervour and heightened spirit. It is one such occasion which revolves around the love and affection shared by a loving brother-sister duo. It strengthens the relationship of a brother and sister and urges them to keep all the grudges aside and come together to celebrate this festival in the most traditionally best manner. All around India, people celebrate this festival and have given different names of Bhai dooj festivals in their own language. Bhai dooj celebration in different states might differ, but the vibes/ feel of this festival remains the same throughout the entire Indian subcontinent. Talk about this festival; here we bring some interesting facts about Bhai dooj that is sure to delight all our readers. Make sure to give this blog, a read, to know more about this festival.

1. It comes from the two Hindi words, Bhai and Dooj. While Bhai means brother, Dooj means the second day after the moon, hence the name Bhai Dhooj.

2. It is celebrated in the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartika.

3. This festival marks the end of Diwali celebration and falls on the fifth or last day of it.

4. For the people of Nepal, this is the second most important festival after Vijaya Dashami. Nepalese refer to this festival as Bhai Tikain.

5. People of West Bengal, celebrate this festival as Bhai Phota wherein the sister chants some mantras and puts Tilak on her brother's forehead.

6. People of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka refer this festival as Bhai Beej or Bhau Beej or Bhai Bij.

7. For people of Manipur, Bhai Dhuj is celebrated as Ningol Chakuba.

8. People all around India also refer to this festival as Yama Divitiya as Lord Yama (the god of death) was said to celebrate this festival along with his sister Yami.

9. This festival was commemorated when Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra's place after defeating Asur Narkaasura. It was said she welcomed him by putting some red vermillion on his forehead.

10. As per another tradition, it is said that Lord Mahavira, on this day years ago, attained Moksha.

11. "Basundi Poori", a sweet dish is made in every Maharashtrian household on this day.

12. "Khaja" - a crunchy sweet snack glaze with sugar syrup is relished in every Bengali household.

13. While the people of rest of India, offer a paste of rice and sindoor on their brother's forehead, people of Bengal apply a sandalwood paste and kajal paste, also called Phonta, is applied on their brother's forehead.

14. People of Nepal celebrate this festival by applying seven colours on their brother's forehead.

15. Virtual tokens and e-cards are made available, these days to grace this special festival to bring all these brother-sister duos together who are distanced from each other due to some or other reason.