Bhai Dooj is a popular Hindi festival celebrated two days after Diwali.

Bhai Dooj is a popular Hindi festival celebrated two days after Diwali. As per the Gregorian calendar, Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartika. The festival commemorates the beautiful brother-sister bond. The significance is similar to that of Raksha Bandhan but the ceremonies differ. On this day, sisters apply tilak on the foreheads of their brother and seek their blessings. They pray for each other's happiness and prosperity and exchange some gifts as a token of gratitude.

Bhai Dooj is also known as Bhau Beej in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, Bhai Tika in Nepal, Bhai Phota in Bengal, and Ningol Chakuba in Manipur. The names may differ but the essence of the festival remains the same. The 'Tika Ceremony' is the highlight of the festival where sisters apply vermilion, dahi and raw rice on the forehead of their brothers. After this, the sisters do an aarti and offer sweets to their brothers.

According to folklore, the God of Death - Yama once visited his sister Yami or Yamuna on this special day. Yami welcomed him by doing an aarti and tilak ceremony. She also offered him a beautiful garland and sweets and Yama in return showered her with gifts. After the ceremony, Yama declared that all the brothers who are applied tilak by their sisters will never be fearful in life. This is probably how the tradition of celebrating Bhai Dooj or Bhai Phota began which is also known as Yama Dwitiya.

According to another story popular in the Hindu mythology, when Lord Krishna returned to his sister Subhadra after killing demon king Narakasur, he was welcomed with tilak, aarti, flowers and sweets.

Sisters pray to Gods and Goddesses to bless their brothers and save them from all problems and the brothers promise to protect their sisters. In West Bengal, sisters apply 'phonta' or sandalwood paste on their brother's forehead and therefore, the festival is also known as Bhai Phota.

In Maharashtra, a sweet dish called basundi poorior kheerni poori is prepared to celebrate Bhai Dooj.

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