Bhai Dooj: Tilak Vidhi, Aarti and the Story Behind It
Bhai Dooj is a quiet, loving festival between sisters and brothers. Here is the thali, the vidhi, and the story behind it.
What Bhai Dooj is
Bhai Dooj falls on the second day after Diwali, in the bright half of the month of Kartik. Sisters pray for the long life and happiness of their brothers, and brothers promise their care and give a gift.
The story
The story is of Yamuna and her brother Yama, the lord of death. Yamuna invited her brother to her home. She welcomed him with a tilak, an aarti and a meal. Pleased by her love, Yama blessed her that any brother who receives a tilak from his sister on this day will be protected. That is why the day is also called Yama Dwitiya.
What to keep on the thali
- Roli or kumkum, and a few grains of rice
- A diya and camphor for the aarti
- Sweets and a coconut or dry fruit
- A small kalawa and flowers
The vidhi
- The brother sits facing east or north on a clean seat.
- The sister applies the tilak of roli and rice on his forehead.
- She does a short aarti, offers sweets and ties a kalawa on his wrist.
- The brother gives a gift and receives her blessings.
- The family shares a meal together.
Timing
Many families do the tilak in the afternoon. The exact good time changes each year and by city, so check the panchang for your place. If a brother and sister live far apart, a video call, a tilak sent by post or a prayer said at the same time keeps the feeling alive.